Oxford vs Coventry Prediction: Sky Blues to keep scoring?

Coventry City have been the eye-catching team over the last two weeks of the Championship, first scoring five goals against Derby before spanking seven goals past QPR at the CBS Arena on Saturday. 

That stadium is now their own after a seismic move from owner Doug King, and now they can look forward to an away game with Oxford United as they look to continue their unbeaten start to the league season. Below you can find my Oxford vs Coventry predictions featuring team news and match odds. 

Team News

Oxford United made plenty of changes for the midweek cup tie against Brighton and Hove Albion, and it was a long night for Gary Rowett’s men, as they lost 6-0 at home. Given they have also lost all three games in the league, the manager will want an inspired performance to get them up and running before the international break. 

After operating with a back five for the 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City and the loss to Brighton, I’d expect Rowett to go for a more aggressive back four on home soil. Elliott Moore and Michal Helik should form the centre-back partnership unless Sam Long keeps his place, while Cameron Brannagan will be the key figure in midfield. Will Lankshear will lead the line in the hunt for goals.

Football Odds

Coventry are likely to name an unchanged team for the third consecutive league game having crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Haji Wright should lead the line once again, flanked by Ephron Mason-Clark and Brandon Thomas-Asante. 

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ben Sheaf are both reportedly available for selection again and should be on the bench after their injuries which will provide a boost to Frank Lampard, while the Sky Blues are also hunting for a centre-back as the transfer clock ticks down. 

Oxford vs Coventry Odds

Oxford are priced as the 18/5 outsiders here, while Coventry are the overwhelming favourites at 4/5. That gives the Sky Blues an implied win probability of 56% heading into this clash, with a draw available at 13/5.

If you fancy some goals, over 2.5 is priced at 1/1, BTTS is 10/11 and Wright is the favourite to open the scoring at 9/2. 

Coventry to win with -1 handicap @ 11/5

I promised myself I wouldn’t get too carried away having watched my beloved Coventry scored seven goals last weekend, but here we are. Listen, I think Oxford can make life difficult for the opposition, and each of their Championship defeats this term have come by just one goal - so they are no mugs. 

But I’m backing this Cov side which should be full of confidence to get a decent win at the Kassam Stadium and leave Oxford pointless after four games. The U’s have struggled to create chances this term, while Coventry’s strikers are absolutely flying. Talking of which…

Price Boost - Haji Wright to score anytime @ 7/4

I think the Golden Boot race in the Championship may well be between Josh Sargent and Haji Wright. Two number nines that have immense quality and good goalscoring records, that were both injured for several months of the last campaign. 

Had they stayed fit, I’m fairly certain they would have both passed Joel Piroe’s winning total of 19, and so I’m going to cross my fingers and jump on board with them this season. Let’s focus on Wright for now however, as the American international has been flying this season. Now playing solely as the central striker in Lampard’s 4-3-3, he has scored four goals in five this season, and three in three in the Championship.

That becomes even more impressive when you consider the fact that he has only started three out of five games this season, having picked up an injury for the United States over the summer. When he’s at his best he is a powerful and lethal finisher, while he is also incredibly reliable from the spot. As a result, we have to back him with this Price Boost.

Offers

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