Paul Brooker returned to the Albion starting line-up today for their first visit to Highfield Road in 20 years.

Boss Steve Coppell turned to the talented former Fulham wide man, with Simon Rodger still sidelined by a broken toe and Charlie Oatway suspended.

Brooker's previous start was in the 1-1 home draw with Ipswich on December 10.

He was the Seagulls' most inventive player in Monday's Sussex Senior Cup win for the Reserves at East Preston, watched by Coppell.

Brooker's ability to open up a defence got him the nod ahead of the more orthodox merits of John Piercy, who was among the replacements.

Arsenal loan pair Steve Sidwell and Graham Barrett, the subject of possible transfers away from parent club Arsenal, were both in the team.

Sidwell had talks on Wednesday with the Seagulls' relegation rivals Stoke.

Albion have responded with a bid of their own to make the free scoring midfielder's move permanent.

Barrett, meanwhile, is expected to make his mind up over the weekend about an offer from Preston.

Piercy was joined on the bench by the fit-again Dean Blackwell and veteran club captain Paul Rogers, with Paul Kitson ruled out by a rib injury and Gary Hart by flu.

Coventry made five changes to the side which stretched their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions with a 2-2 draw at Cardiff in the FA Cup last Saturday.

Argentinian striker Juan Sara, signed on loan yesterday from Dundee for the rest of the season, made his debut at the expense of Lee Mills.

The Sky Blues welcomed back Richard Shaw, Barry Quinn and Craig Pead from injury.

Shaw, who played under Coppell at Crystal Palace, made his 250th appearance for the club at the expense of Calum Davenport in the centre of defence.

Quinn came in for the banned Dean Gordon, another of Coppell's ex-Palace players, while Sidwell's England Under 20 colleague Pead returned for the sidelined Gary Caldwell.

Richie Partridge also got a starting place, with topscorer Jay Bothroyd serving a one match suspension.

Albion: Michel Kuipers; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Robbie Pethick, Nathan Jones, Bobby Zamora, Graham Barrett, Steve Sidwell. Subs: Blackwell, Rogers, Packham, Hinshelwood, Piercy.

Coventry: Morten Hyldgaard; Craig Pead, Muhamed Konjic, Richard Shaw, John Estace, Richie Partridge, Gary McAllister, Barry Quinn, Dean Holdsworth, Juan Sara, Robert Betts. Subs: Mills, Strachan, McSheffrey, Davenport, Montgomery.

Referee: P. Crossley (Kent).