Who will keep up with the play-off places?
Traditionally, the second English league, the Championship, is extremely tight. Especially the race for the coveted play-off places seems to be hard to beat this season. Due to the many cancellations and the relatively meaningless league table, even the teams in eleventh to thirteenth place can still hope for promotion to the Premier League.
Two of these clubs, who belong to the distinct upper midfield of the standings, face each other on Tuesday evening in a matchday 23 catch-up game. We are talking about Coventry and Stoke. According to the odds, we can expect a competitive match between direct neighbours in the table. However, the home side is considered to have a slight advantage, even though the Sky Blues have not been doing well in front of their home crowd recently.
Apart from that the visitors from the darts stronghold Stoke-on-Trent left a very passable impression at the weekend in their narrow 2:3 defeat against promotion favourites Fulham. In combination with the away strength, which will be described in detail later, it can make sense to focus on a prediction on the Potters’ three-goal win between Coventry and Stoke.
Coventry – Statistics & current form
Between 1992 and 2001 Coventry City were allowed to breathe Premier League air. The greatest success, however, lies even further in the past. In 1987, the Sky Blues sensationally snatched the FA Cup title in the final against Tottenham.
However, the club from the West Midlands is now far removed from such successes. Nevertheless, the trend in recent years has been in the right direction. While the former first division club even had to spend a season in the fourth-tier League Two in 2017/18, they have since managed to return to the second-tier Championship. After finishing 16th last year, the team of coach Mark Robins, who has been at the helm of the Sky Blues for almost five years, can even dream of the play-offs in 2021/22.
Coventrys weak at home recently
The team is currently in tenth place, seven points behind sixth-placed Huddersfield Town, who, as things stand, would clinch the last play-off ticket. However, the fact that the Robins eleven have played three matches less so far is hopeful. This in turn is due to the fact that the Sky Blues have only played four times in the league and once in the FA Cup since mid-December due to the pandemic.
In general, the many cancellations and postponements have left an impression, as with the exception of a 1-0 win in the cup against league rivals Derby County and a commanding 4-1 away win at relegation candidates Peterborough United, none of the last nine competitive matches have been won.
This negative trend continued last weekend when the home match against Queens Park Rangers was lost 2-1. It was already the third home defeat in a row and the fourth match in a row in front of a home crowd that could not be won. In view of this poor result and the unconvincing form, betting on a home win in the Coventry vs Stoke clash is not advisable.
Predicted Coventry line-up:
Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Kane, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; O’Hare, Shipley; Waghorn
Last Coventry games:
Championship
01/22 2022 – Coventry 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers
01/15 2022 – Peterboro 1 – 4 Coventry
FA Cup
01/08 2022 – Coventry 1 – 0 Derby
Championship
12/29 2021 – Coventry 0 – 1 Millwall
12/11 2021 – Huddersfield 1 – 1 Coventry
Stoke – Statistics & current form
Not so long ago, Stoke City were considered an established Premier League team. The Potters spent a total of ten years in a row (2008-2018) in England’s top football league and had nothing to do with relegation in most seasons. However, SCFC have left much to be desired since their bitter slide into the second division. This is underlined by their recent finishes. The last three seasons ended in 16th, 15th and 14th place.
In the current season, however, the team of coach Michael O’Neill, who once won many laurels as Northern Ireland national coach, is knocking on the door. Although they are currently only in ninth place, they are only six points behind the sixth-placed team, who have also played two games more. So after a few disappointing years, the Potters can hope again.
Does Stoke confirm strong away form
One of the reasons for the promising starting position is the very good away record. Only four other teams have managed more victories away from home than Stoke City so far this season. Five of twelve away games were won (two draws, five defeats). The defence in particular has been convincing, conceding only twelve goals. In the review of the most recent five away matches, four victories and only one defeat are recorded. Interesting: All four victories away from home were by zero goals!
The away strength is therefore a valid argument for playing the odds on the visitors’ treble between Coventry and Stoke. This is also supported by the good impression the O’Neill team made at the weekend. Against Fulham, probably the best team in the league, the Potters kept up very well and only lost by a narrow margin of 2:3 in the end. If the ninth-placed team can build on this performance, there is a lot to be said for an away win in our eyes.
Incidentally, hopes are pinned on a youngster who goes by the name of Wright Phillips. In fact, he is the son of former international Shaun Wright Phillips. D’Margio moved from Manchester City’s U23s to Stoke’s reserves only a year ago and has since worked his way up the ranks. The 20-year-old has now made two appearances for the professionals and has already scored one goal. On Tuesday evening, he will get his next start.
Predicted Stoke line-up:
Bonham; Harwood-Bellis, Jagielka, Chester; Smith, Baker, Allen, Vrancic, Tymon; Campbell, Wright-Phillips
Last games played by Stoke:
Championship
01/22 2022 – Stoke 2 – 3 Fulham
01/16 2022 – Hull 0 – 2 Stoke
FA Cup
01/09 2022 – Stoke 2 – 0 Leyton Orient
Championship
01/03 2022 – Stoke 1 – 2 Preston
12/30 2021 – Stoke 1 – 2 Derby
Coventry – Stoke Direct comparison / H2H record
The fact that this pairing has occurred more often in England’s top division than in the lower house underlines the fact that two clubs of note are facing each other. The bottom line, however, is that the head-to-head comparison is not particularly meaningful as, with the exception of an FA Cup match in 2017/18 that went 2-1 to Coventry, there have only been the two Championship duels from the previous season in this decade. Coventry were held to a goalless draw, while Stoke were beaten 3-2 by the Sky Blues. This season, however, the tide could turn.
Coventry – Stoke Tip
In a matchday 23 catch-up game, Coventry and Stoke face each other on Tuesday evening. The bookmakers’ betting odds already suggest that we can expect a duel at eye level. No wonder, because after all it is a clash of direct neighbours in the table, who are currently only separated by one point.
Nevertheless, we see the advantage on the side of the visitors and base this assessment primarily on the fact that the Potters have won four of their last five away games and have not conceded a goal in any of their four victories. This contrasts with a Coventry side that has lost three at home and, having played just four Championship games since mid-December, has yet to find its rhythm.
In our opinion, therefore, the most interesting value lies between Coventry and Stoke in the away win tip. Even if we hedge the success of the O’Neill eleven with the “Draw No Bet” addition and it would return the stake in the event of a draw, we still get a 2.25 in the top at the tested bookmaker Unibet. A medium bet is absolutely justifiable.
