Coventry City vs Watford Prediction: Cleverley under the spotlight

Once again, the grey clouds appear to be circling above the Watford dugout. Amid reports that Tom Cleverley was set to be replaced by Jose Rojo Martin, the club were forced to post a statement confirming Cleverley would be in charge this weekend. It’s hardly the best preparation for an away game at Coventry, which kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday. 

The Sky Blues have won their last two in the league and could make it three from three as they host a Watford team that will surely come out fighting for their manager. Below you can find my Coventry City vs Watford predictions.

Team News

Coventry remain without arguably their three best players in the form of Ben Sheaf, Ephron Mason-Clark and Haji Wright. However, Frank Lampard has responded well to those setbacks, switching to a 5-3-2 system which seems to have produced better results and a sturdier defence. 

Oliver Dovin put in a superb performance in midweek against Blackburn and is now certain to be his number one goalkeeper while Liam Kitching has emerged as the first-choice centre-back as part of the back three. Joel Latibeaudiere, Luis Binks and Bobby Thomas are fighting it out for the other spots at the back, with Thomas brought off the bench after an hour at Ewood Park. 

Jake Bidwell will once again tussle it out with Jay Dasilva on the left-hand side, while Milan van Ewijk is rediscovering his form on the right. Victor Torp, Jamie Allen and Jack Rudoni have settled as the midfield three with Josh Eccles now a substitute, while Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms should continue up front having both scored in the week. 

Watford suffered a blow in their home defeat to Preston as Kwadwo Baah was taken off after just 15 minutes. He will miss this game while Imran Louza, Daniel Bachmann and Festy Ebosele are all also sidelined. It means Cleverley, in what could be his final game in charge, will look to the likes of the emerging Rocca Vata for goals.

The former Celtic man found the net again in midweek, while Vakoun Bayo is their leading marksman with 10 to his name. The talented Giorgi Chakvetadze could also come into the team to provide more quality in the attacking third, with Tom Dele-Bashiru likely to partner Moussa Sissoko in the centre of midfield. 

Coventry City vs Watford Odds

Frank Lampard is yet to lose a home game as Coventry City manager, and his side are 4/5 to win this game on Saturday, giving them an implied win probability of 55%. Watford are available at 7/2 to win this one having seen three wins on the road this term, while a draw can be backed at 13/5. 

Over 2.5 goals is available at 4/5 having come in during 54% of Coventry’s matches this term while BTTS is the same price. Having scored in his last two appearances, Brandon Thomas-Asante is the favourite to score first at 9/2. 

BTTS Yes @ 4/5

Coventry may have kept two clean sheets on the bounce but I still have my concerns about this defensive unit. The Sky Blues relied on their keeper pulling off a fantastic double save to keep Rovers at bay in midweek and I think Watford may just have the quality in the final third to expose their hosts at the CBS Arena. Bayo is a real handful and with Chakvetadze and Vata, he has excellent quality around him as well. 

I think Cleverley’s men will come out fighting, as Lampard suggested in his pre-match press conference. "Unfortunately if you have a tough period, which we all go though, this is the sort of speculation that goes with it. I've been there, you understand it, it's not great, but you have to continue working and I'm sure he is going that."

Meanwhile, Simms and Thomas-Asante look right up for it at the moment, and I cannot see Watford keeping a clean sheet in this one. Coventry have scored in their last five outings and I expect to see more of the same heading into this one. An entertaining clash should be on the cards given these two drew 1-1 earlier in the season, and 3-3 last year at the CBS. 

Ellis Simms to score anytime @ 13/8

Something has changed with Simms in recent weeks. He for most of the season has looked disinterested and his work-rate has not been high enough. Now, he is busting a gut for the team from the front, charging around and putting himself about. He’s a physical monster when he wants to be, and centre-backs must hate coming up against him when he is in the mood. 

He got the goal his work deserved at Blackburn with a close-range header, and I think he can make it two for two against Watford this weekend. He is a confidence player, and that confidence appears to be rising rapidly under Lampard.

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