To use the well worn cliché, tonights game between Coventry City and Cardiff City at The Ricoh Arena is a six pointer.
The Sky Blues need to win to close the points gap on the teams currently in the top six and Cardiff need the six points to retain their current top six place.
Coventry are on an unbeaten run at home of eight games, their best run since the 2005/6 season, when they went twelve games without losing at home. Cardiff, by comparison have lost their last four away games. However, Cardiff have not lost at The Ricoh in their last three visits.
A win for Coventry tonight could leave them in the top six, but other results will have to go their way. Blackpool play Sheffield United tonight and will need at least a point to stay ahead of Coventry should Coventry do get maximum points.
Coventry manager Chris Coleman has more or less stopped trying to play down the significance of tonights game, saying, “We can play it down as much as we like but it is at the front of everyone’s mind and the players are no different and they don’t need me to keep harping on about it.”
“They know the situation and we have just got to concentrate on another tough game which provides another opportunity for us. We have got a good record at home and we have to maintain that, we are in a situation where we have got people excited and we know the possibilities but let’s keep our minds on the job."
"We keep giving ourselves the chance of an exciting end to the season and no-one wants that to stop, but the players are human beings and they feel the tension more than anyone and it is their fault for getting us there in the first place, but they have been terrific and whatever they have got in their tank they will give to us."
“We have got used to winning and not losing and maybe that draw on Saturday left people disappointed. but win, lose or draw we have got to march on and look to the next game. We all know what the possibilities are if we win so many games in the last ten."
"And the players have been looking at it the same as myself, the supporters and the chairman.It is my job to take a bit of the heat off the players so let’s concentrate on Cardiff City and see where we are at the end of the night."
“We have got to go and win the game and while we are in the mix there are going to be swings and roundabouts, peaks and troughs and twists and we have just got to make sure we give ourselves a chance and we have got half a chance of finishing well.”
Chis Coleman will have to wait and see if Sammy Clingan will be fit to play any part in tonights game, he has a sore calf and didn't take part in training yesterday.