Coventry vs Stoke Prediction: Mark Robins returns to the CBS

Well, there’s only one place to start with this fixture isn’t there? The return to Coventry City of Mark Robins, the manager who spent seven spectacular years at the club and rescued them from the depths of League 2. He managed to almost single-handedly turn this club around and get them to within a penalty shootout of both the Premier League and the FA Cup final. 

His glorious managerial stint with the Sky Blues came to an abrupt end in early November, and now he returns to the CBS Arena for the first time with his new side Stoke City. This one is live on Sky Sports Football at 12:30, as Coventry look to get one over on their former boss. 

Team News

Coventry had some good news and some bad news at Oxford. Let’s start with the bad, as star midfielder Jack Rudoni dislocated his shoulder while heading in the opener, and then did it again later in the first half. He was forced off and now looks set to be out until the international break which will be a big loss for Frank Lampard. 

Natural replacement Victor Torp is still on his way back from injury so won’t be able to start this one, so expect captain Ben Sheaf to make his first start since January 4. Jamie Allen could replace Josh Eccles as Lampard searches for his ideal midfield trio, while the rest of the team should remain unchanged. 

Football Odds

Haji Wright came off the bench against Oxford United as he got his first minutes in three months, but his rustiness was obvious and so Ellis Simms will start again, flanked by the in-form duo of Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark. Only January additions Matt Grimes and Jamie Patterson were not Robins’ signings, so it makes for an interesting prospect when these two teams meet. 

For Stoke, their injury woes seem to be easing slightly, with Ben Gibson, Lynden Gooch and perhaps most importantly, Wouter Burger, likely to be available for the trip to the CBS Arena after some time out. However, former Coventry loanee Josh Wilson-Esbrand is likely to miss this one, along with Sol Sidibe and Ryan Mmaee. 

Robins has tried to get the best out of Lewis Baker since his arrival, and the midfielder could return to the starting XI having been left out of the squad against Watford due to illness. Ali Al-Hamadi and Sam Gallagher will battle it out for the number nine spot, with the former Blackburn striker now back to full fitness. 

Coventry vs Stoke Odds

Coventry have been priced up at 8/15 to win this game having won eight of their last nine in the Championship. That gives them an implied win probability of 65%, while Stoke are available at 5/1 to win their fourth away game of the campaign. A draw can be backed at 16/5, and BTTS is 10/11.

In terms of goalscorers, Simms is the favourite to strike first at 6/1, and Lampard will be looking for him to bounce back after his penalty miss last weekend. 

Coventry to win and BTTS @ 11/5 

Of course I have to back the home team to win yet again, given the current run of form they are on. Coventry have won their last four games by a one-goal margin, and their only defeat in their last nine came at the hands of Leeds United - a team that look destined for the Championship title. 

Lampard has only had to tweak a couple of things, but the players have responded brilliantly to his efforts. He, along with Chris Jones and Joe Edwards deserve huge credit for this run that has carried the Sky Blues up to fifth in the table. With that exciting front three they can score goals at will and although I’m concerned by the absence of Rudoni, they should have enough to get over the line in this one. 

However, I don’t think it will be simple and I think Stoke will pose a threat. I’ll give them a goal in what should be a relatively entertaining encounter on Saturday lunchtime. 

Scorecast - Coventry 2-1 Stoke - Mason-Clark to score first @ 40/1

I can see another one-goal win for the Sky Blues ahead of this game, so I’ll back a 2-1 win but I want to add Mason-Clark to score first to this selection, to spice things up a bit. His form has been exemplary under Lampard and he’s now got five goals in eight starts under the former England international. 

He’s found his best position on the left wing and even with the return of Haji Wright, I don’t think he will lose his starting spot given the form he is in. He scored a rather silly goal with his head against Oxford as he chased down a shanked clearance, but I think he will cause Stoke some serious issues on Saturday. Let’s back him to bag first in a narrow home victory. 

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