Coventry vs Ipswich Prediction: Tractor Boys to take leap towards Premier League

Ipswich Town need just four points from their final two Championship matches to secure an improbable double-promotion, and return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002. Leeds United’s defeat on Friday night handed them an opportunity, but one they were unable to fully take advantage of as they drew 3-3 with play-off chasers Hull City. 

Now they face Coventry City at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night (20:00, Sky Sports Football), as the Sky Blues cruise towards the end of the season. This game matters so much for both the away side, and Leeds United, so expect a lot of interest in this Championship encounter. Below you can find my Coventry vs Ipswich prediction.

Team News

Coventry are running on empty, and this will be their fourth game in 10 days. The FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United has killed their season, and now injuries are racking up. Luis Binks, Victor Torp and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto are out for the season, while Liam Kitching is suspended having been sent off at Blackburn on Saturday. Ben Sheaf is also likely to be out with a muscle problem, and with no other options, central defender Bobby Thomas will have to play again, having racked up 300 minutes of action in the last 10 days. 

Kieran McKenna could well be without star left-back Leif Davis after he was taken off injured against Hull City late on. He rolled his ankle and was limping pretty heavily, so Harry Clarke is likely to start in his place. Interestingly, Nathan Broadhead was left out of the squad, as was Marcus Harness, so both of those may come back into the travelling contingent here. 

Match Odds

Ipswich are the favourites for this one, priced at 8/11 to take all three points. That gives them an implied win probability of 57%, while a draw can be backed at 3/1. Coventry are 100/30 for victory, while goals are likely. BTTS and over 2.5 goals are both priced at 1/2. 

Ipswich to win and over 2.5 goals @ 13/10

Coventry are in a world of trouble right now. As a fan, I’ve seen us plow all our energy into the FA Cup semi-final (rightly so), but the end of the season can’t come quickly enough. One win from their last six league matches, and one point from the last 12 on offer speaks volumes to where this team is at right now. The Sky Blues have run out of squad depth, and run out of legs at this stage of the season. 

With influential midfielder Sheaf out, veteran Liam Kelly, who played for the club in League Two is likely to start again, with Jamie Allen a probable partner in midfield. Ellis Simms and Haji Wright looked knackered against Blackburn and were both withdrawn, while Callum O’Hare may be forced onto the bench after another tough shift. 

Mark Robins may have to turn to the kids on the bench with his current issues, while McKenna’s men should be able to overpower this Coventry side with their high-energy football. They’ve got bags of quality and squad depth, leaving the likes of Broadhead and Harness out of the squad entirely last weekend. 

I expect a few changes for the Tractor Boys, but they should be able to score goals at will against Cov at the CBS Arena. Ipswich aren’t too solid at the back, and Coventry should be able to get a tune out of Simms and Wright for 45 minutes at least. I’m expecting plenty of goals, but ultimately a big win for the energetic away side. 

Ellis Simms and Omari Hutchinson to score @ 15/2

We should see goals at both ends, so it makes sense in my eyes to pick out two goalscorers on the night. My Coventry selection is number nine Ellis Simms who has improved so much as the season has progressed. He should start up front and be able to test an Ipswich backline who have only kept one clean sheet in their last five. 

I’ll pick out Omari Hutchinson for Ipswich, after he scored two sensational goals at the MKM Stadium on Saturday night. He should be able to get several shots at goal against this weakened Coventry side, so the price of 15/2 for both goalscorers is worth backing in my eyes. 

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