Sunderland edge their way down the right, winning a string of throw-ins.

But as Patrick Roberts tricks his way down and thinks he's won another, the referee's assistant points his flag in Coventry's favour.

The visitors possibly still edging this, but that Viktor Gyokeres chance was the best so far.

Sunderland pile into the box, a belligerent run from Patrick Roberts which is eventually stopped, and then as Coventry break, Dan Neil bites at Jamie Allen and is booked.

Raking ball into the left channel releases Jake Bidwell, and he turns in a cross for Coventry, which is eventually smuggled behind by Sunderland for a corner.

Luke McNally meets the outswinger, but his header soars over the top.

Amad Diallo gives the ball away and suddenly Coventry are away.

Viktor Gyokeres has the run on the Sunderland defence, driving diagonally across the penalty area but as he tries to go back across the keeper on his right foot, he steams it over the bar.

Wasteful, as that was a gift. You'd have backed him there. And he had the two centre-halves on toast for pace.

Sunderland open Coventry up through some sharp interchange of passing, Dan Neil drives up with a one-two and then slips out the ball to Patrick Roberts on the right.

His ball across the 18-yard box is met by Aji Alese in the box, but he defies physics in squirting the ball off his toe and away from goal rather than towards it.

Missed opportunity.

Image source, PA Media

Both bosses gave this game the big build up pre-match and so far it's lived up to expectations.

Entertaining fare from two teams who try to play football.

Edouard Michut has a speculative dig for Sunderland, but crashes it without troubling Ben Wilson.

Sunderland expressing themselves.

Coventry's Luke McNally chases a ball over the top back with Jack Clarke and has to put it behind.

Amad Diallo's corner is cleared convincingly by skipper Kyle McFadzean.

Image source, Rex Features

It's always a feisty affair when Oxford and Bristol Rovers go up against each other, which is why it's kicked off at 12:30 GMT.

The hosts have already hit the post from a Cameron Brannagan corner - we'll keep you updated on any goals in that one.

Danny Batth meets a curling cross into the box from a Sunderland free-kick, and his looping header brushes the crossbar.

Before that, former Sunderland goalkeeper Ben Wilson is called into action to beat away a Trai Hume strike.

Ferocious hit. Chances for the visitors.

Real ebb and flow to this game, open start.

Coventry recycle the cleared set-piece and Kasey Palmer picks the ball up in midfield.

It's a little nutmeg which opens up the space, and the Jamaica man drives at goal but it swings wide.

Image source, Rex Features

Easy claim by Anthony Patterson as Gustavo Hamer swung in.

Sunderland attack down the left with Jack Clarke swaying toward the byline but his cross is blocked by Luke McNally's diving lunge.

Coventry hit on the break and win another set-piece...

First real sign of attacking threat, as Coventry's Kasey Palmer skips in off the left and drives towards the box, but the ball is shepherded behind.

The home side driving on.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy sweeps in a cross from the right and wins a corner.

Image source, PA Media

Nice tribute to John Motson at Coventry, following his death at the age of 77.

Coventry fans will no doubt remember his exclaim of "HOUCHEN!" as Keith dived to head past goalkeeper Ray Clemence, as City won the FA Cup back in 1987.

Classic commentary.

Here we go then.

Dean Whitestone draws on his peablaster, and we're up and running.

Image source, Getty Images

It's three wins from the past five for Coventry, who have revived themselves in timely fashion in the Championship.

Viktor Gyokeres is at the heart of their push, with 15 goals in all competitions this season. The Swede will take some watching this afternoon for the two Dans - Ballard and Batth.

Sunderland's goal threat had fallen to Ross Stewart for much of the season, but his 11 strikes will be all he can contribute for the rest of the term after his Achilles injury.

Joe Gelhardt has been brought in from Leeds, and nabbed his first goal in midweek. Jack Clarke and Amad Diallo have also weighed in with seven apiece, to keep the Black Cats ship bobbing along.

Their midweek loss at Rotherham was their first on their travels since December too. Form has been decent all things considered despite the workload.

Image source, Getty Images

While the feeling within the stands might be a little less friendly between the two sets of supporters, there's been nothing but respect and cordiality from the two gaffers.

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray of course has an association with Coventry, having managed there between March 2015 and September 2016.

"It's [Coventry] probably on a journey," Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle. "If they get the right investment, they will get to where they want to be eventually and the supporter base is there to carry it.

"I just think it's going to be a great game on Saturday, I know the Sunderland fans will be there in numbers and I think their supporters will be there in numbers.

"It should be a great event in a wonderful stadium, and hopefully it's a great football match."

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry boss Mark Robins has plenty of respect for today's opponents Sunderland, and has been impressed by what they have shown on their return to the Championship.

Former Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray has assembled a bright team at the Stadium of Light which has taken them into the promotion reckoning.

Robins' side aren't far behind, and see today as a chance to close in on the pack.

"They're just above us in the table," Robins said. "Not far outside the play-offs, if we can get a result that elevates us closer to them and by definition we are a lot closer ourselves.

"It's going to be a really good game, they have a young squad, but they've got a really talented young squad supplemented in the window with [Joe] Gelhardt going there.

"Amad Diallo is on loan from Manchester United and has made a really big difference to them too.

"They play some really good football and it will be a good football match and a tough game for both teams."

Image source, Rex Features

No change to the starting XI for Coventry, as it's the same side that beat Rotherham last time out.

Liam Kelly and Jack Burroughs are replaced on the bench by Fankaty Dabo and Sean Maguire.

Sunderland meanwhile make three changes, with Trai Hume, Aji Alese and Patrick Roberts added to the starting line-up.

Dennis Cirkin drops out, but Luke O'Nien and Alex Pritchard move onto the bench.

Coventry: Wilson, McFadzean, McNally, Doyle, Hamer, Eccles, Norton-Cufty, Allen, Palmer, Bidwell, Gyokeres

Subs: Moore, Rose, Wilson-Esbrand, Maguire, Walker, Dabo, Godden

Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese, Michut, Neil, Roberts, Amad, Clarke, Gelhardt

Subs: Bass, O'Nien, Pritchard, Lihadji, Ekwah, Bennette, Ba

Image source, Getty Images

It is through circumstance rather than geography (obviously...) that Coventry and Sunderland have established a heated rivalry - and to understand why, you have to travel back to 1977.

Sunderland, Coventry and Bristol City were embroiled in a relegation scrap, with just one game to go.

Everton were the Wearsiders' opponents, while the Sky Blues entertained City in a proper four-pointer in the days before three points for a win.

To cut a long story short, Sunderland trailed at Goodison Park, lost and were relegated while Coventry and Bristol City - who kicked off late on police advice, discovered the fact with the scores level at 2-2 and essentially downed tools with their mutual safety secured.

Sunderland never forgave the late Jimmy Hill, or Coventry, for the fact. It still burns today.

Hello there.

Obviously it's a big weekend in the EFL as winter's last vestiges start to thaw into the green shoots of spring, and business time.

But it's in this thick-of-it spell that the hard work is done, where teams lay the groundworks for success.

In a congested Championship, where anyone of about 12 teams still have a viable opportunity for promotion, Coventry and Sunderland are two clubs jostling for position amidst the traffic.

Image source, Rex Features

What better way to get your Saturday up and running than a bit of high-octane, high-stakes excitement?

Promotion-chasing Coventry and Sunderland meet first of all this lunchtime, the opening gambit as all but two of the Championship's 24 clubs go in search of points this afternoon.

Chuck in full programmes from Leagues One and Two, and it's a veritable buffet.

Let's crack on.