Cardiff City vs Coventry City Prediction: Lampard sets out stall in 2025

When Coventry City hosted Cardiff City at the end of November, it marked Frank Lampard’s first game in charge of the Sky Blues. That one ended in a 2-2 draw after a late Victor Torp penalty, and now the teams meet again, this time in South Wales. 

Cardiff secured an impressive 2-1 win at Watford, which was the first time an away side have come away with three points from Vicarage Road this season as Omer Riza ended a poor run of results. Now they return home for a 15:00 kick-off and below you can find my Cardiff City vs Coventry City prediction.

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Cardiff ended a nine-match winless streak with a wonderful performance last time out that helped quieten the noise around Riza. When questioned if that showing proved his players were still playing for him, he responded:

"I don't think there's ever been any doubt about that from my perspective. They're a great bunch. They work really hard, things are just not working at the minute and it's hard when it gets like that.

"It's really difficult but they're taking things on board and the proof there today [at Watford] just shows that they're fighting and they have to otherwise we will be in trouble."

Young striker Cian Ashford led the line in that one and Riza would like to name an unchanged XI if possible. Callum Robinson and Chris Willock joined him in attack, which meant key man Rubin Colwill dropped to the bench, so he could be one possible change. 

Meanwhile, Coventry are looking for a solution on their left wing after Ephron Mason-Clark picked up a hamstring issue that is set to rule him out of the next few weeks. With Haji Wright also out until mid-January, Jack Rudoni was shifted from his central role to the left against Millwall. 

That game ended in a 0-0 draw and Cov didn’t create all that much, so expect Brandon Thomas-Asante or even Norman Bassette to be given a go on the left, with Ellis Simms likely to be recalled up front. After two clean sheets on the bounce, Oliver Dovin will continue in goal behind a back four of Milan van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Joel Latibeaudiere and Jake Bidwell. 

Cardiff City vs Coventry City Odds

Cardiff are priced at 2/1 to win this game having won four and lost seven of their matches at the Cardiff City Stadium this term. Coventry are available at 11/8 to secure all three points, while another draw between these two can be backed at 12/5. 

Over 2.5 goals has come in during 58% of Coventry matches this season and is available at 4/5, while BTTS is 4/6. Simms is favourite to score first at 6/1 but he’s only scored twice this season for Coventry. 

Both teams to score @ 4/6

Both teams have scored in 54 per cent of Coventry’s matches this season and although their last game finished 0-0, they were up against a stubborn Millwall side. I’m slightly concerned their offensive ability will be limited without Mason-Clark and Wright, but they should have enough to find the net one way or another against Cardiff. 

Cardiff have seen both teams score in three of their last four matches, while when these two met a month ago, the game was open and finished 2-2. In the battle of the CCFCs, both teams can score. 

Draw @ 12/5 

I’m going to sit firmly on the fence as my beloved Coventry travel to Wales for this one. Lampard’s now been in charge of seven matches, and won three of them, but the Sky Blues have perhaps not kicked on as expected over the festive period given the ease of their fixture list. 

Lampard will want to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window but his side can be competitive. They will also have a point to prove given they were hammered 4-1 by Portsmouth in their last away game. These two drew 2-2 last time they met and I could see a repeat scoreline in this one. 

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