Bristol City vs Coventry Prediction: Haji in the goals again?

Both Bristol City and Coventry City enjoyed thrilling wins last weekend as the Robins came out 4-3 winners on home soil against Millwall, while Coventry needed a 96th-minute winner from Haji Wright to secure a 3-2 win over Oxford United. 

It means that goals are surely on the cards as they both meet at Ashton Gate on Saturday (12:30, Sky Sports+). Below I’ve put forward my thoughts in this Bristol City vs Coventry prediction.

Team News

Bristol City manager Liam Manning will have been delighted with the attacking performance against Millwall but he has still been left with a selection headache. Sinclair Armstrong has started as the number nine, and scored against Millwall, but fellow new arrival Fally Mayulu came off the bench to score his second goal in two league games so far. The Robins have two fine attacking options there, while Scott Twine should also start after his late winner. 

Meanwhile, Coventry rotated their centre-backs against Oxford as Joel Latibeaudiere and Luis Binks played the 90 minutes. Given the defensive struggles, Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching will be pushing for starts, but Mark Robins will be looking to establish a first-choice back four quickly. There’s positive news when it comes to Ben Sheaf, as the midfielder was pictured running on the grass again, although this game will come too soon for him. 

Bristol City vs Coventry Odds

Bristol City are priced at 7/5 to win this game, while Coventry are available at 13/8 which shows you how close this one should be. A draw can be backed at 11/5, over 2.5 goals is 5/6 and BTTS is 4/6. 

Over 4.5 goals @ 5/1

I’m happy to back this one to be a repeat of last weekend, and think we have found excellent value in over 4.5 goals. Bristol City showed their attacking strength against Millwall, while in Armstrong and Mayulu they have two strikers who can and will score goals. 

With Twine pulling the strings against a Coventry team who are still trying to determine their best back four. Cov are also without their key holding midfielder in Sheaf, and as a result, I think they home side can bag a few goals. However, the Sky Blues might just have to back themselves to outscore every team they come up against this season with their own attacking might. Ellis Simms, Haji Wright and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto should start as the attacking trio, while they will also be pushed by Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ephron Mason-Clark on the bench. 

5/1 feels like a massive price for there to be over 4.5 goals, especially when we analyse these two outfits, so that will be my first selection. 

Haji Wright to score anytime @ 2/1

Lower odds, but Haji Wright is the man to back for goals at the minute in a sky blue shirt. He was simply phenomenal on Friday night, scoring two goals from the left-wing position. Although he was brought to the club as a number nine, he is flourishing in that channel, and looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

He recorded 21 touches in the opposition’s box against Oxford, the most a Championship player has ever recorded since Opta started collecting those stats in the second tier in 2013/14. He is going to cause problems, and now he is full of confidence, I’d back him to find the net again. 

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