Coventry vs Sheffield United Prediction: Sky Blues to bounce back?

Coventry City were handed their first defeat of the Championship season as they lost 3-2 to Wrexham on Friday night. Frank Lampard’s charges will return to the home comforts of the CBS Arena tonight as they face Sheffield United (20:00 GMT, Sky Sports Main Event). 

So can the Sky Blues get back to winning ways? Find my Coventry vs Sheffield United predictions below featuring the latest team news and betting tips.

Team News

Coventry boss Lampard was hampered by illness, suspensions and injuries away at Wrexham and had to change three of his usual back four. Milan van Ewijk has served his one-game suspension and will return at right-back, Jay Dasilva should be fit to start after his illness and it is also hoped that Bobby Thomas will be able to return to the centre of the defence after his calf issue. 

In midfield, Victor Torp was able to play half an hour off the bench and should start in midfield with Matt Grimes, while there are also calls to strengthen the midfield by playing Jamie Allen or Josh Eccles in a three, and withdrawing one of the front three. That could be top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante or winger Ephron Mason-Clark, if Lampard wants to gain more control of the midfield. 

Football Odds

Sheffield United lost at home to Derby County last time out and Wilder seems to have a bit of a problem in his defence. Japhet Tanganga filled in as a hybrid right-back/centre-back in a fluid back four/three, while Chiedozie Ogbene played as the nominal right-wing-back.

I’d expect Chris Wilder to try and emulate Wrexham’s success against the Sky Blues with a more traditional back three here, with Ogbene and former Sky Blue Sam McCallum set to play at wing-back. Another former Coventry man Callum O’Hare is in fine form having scored three in his last four, but Gustavo Hamer will miss out on a CBS return with a calf problem. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Coventry vs Sheffield United Odds

Coventry are the favourites to win this game, priced at 8/13 which gives them an implied win probability of 61% according to the odds. Sheffield United are 4/1 for the win, and a draw is up at 11/4 at the time of writing. 

Over 2.5 goals is 8/13 having come in during nine of Coventry’s 13 outings this term, BTTS is 4/6 and Haji Wright is the favourite to score first at 7/2.

Price Boost - Coventry to win and BTTS @ 5/2

I will back the Sky Blues to win this game, despite the little wobble at Wrexham on Friday night. The midfield has looked exposed in the last couple of games but Lampard has to address that for this one, and move away from the front four that has taken teams apart in an attacking sense in recent months. 

Sheffield United haven’t quite been able to get this right even since Wilder’s return, and the 3-1 defeat to Derby showed some defensive weaknesses. I like Tanganga a lot and Mark McGuinness can handle himself at Championship level, but this game will be won in midfield. 

Coventry have the attacking firepower to trouble an unconvincing defence, but I’ll also back the away team to find the net given what we saw from Wrexham on Friday. BTTS has come in during the last three games for both of these teams, so I think we should get entertainment at the CBS. 

Bobby Thomas to score anytime @ 15/2

This pick obviously depends on whether Thomas is fit enough to start, but if he is, I think this is a great price. Sheffield United looked really poor from set pieces against Derby as Carlton Morris headed home from an early corner, and then nearly doubled his tally at the back post from another set piece. 

Coventry have not only scored the most goals in the division, but scored the most from set pieces (11), with Thomas the obvious target from corners and free-kicks. Centre-back partner Liam Kitching is a bigger price to find the net if you want certainty on a starter, but Thomas has one goal already this term and scored five last season. I think he can take advantage of this disorganised Blades outfit.

Offers

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