Coventry vs Leicester Prediction: Sky Blues to upset league leaders?

The M69 derby graces our screens on Saturday lunchtime as Leicester City continue their seemingly unstoppable quest to break Reading’s 106-point record in the second tier.

It seems unlikely that any other team in the Championship will be able to overhaul them this season, and it's now a question of when, rather than if, they secure promotion back to the top flight. 

Next up they face a tough trip to their close rivals Coventry City, as the Sky Blues look to achieve back-to-back top six finishes. Below we have previewed the clash and come up with a couple of betting selections. 

Team News

Mark Robins will be delighted with the shape his side are in heading into this clash. Haji Wright is the only minor doubt having been taken off against Middlesbrough and missed the 6-2 win over Oxford United, but it is believed that he will bounce back and be fit to start after a period of rest. Fabio Tavares made his return to the pitch in that cup win after a year out and Liam Kitching returns from suspension, while Yasin Ayari had his loan from Brighton cut short at the start of the month. 

Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca will hope to welcome back both Jamie Vardy and Kasey McAteer who both missed the cup win over Millwall. However, Patson Daka, Harry Souttar and Kelechi Iheanacho are all away on international duty.

Match Odds

Coventry are 5/2 to win this one, while a draw can be backed at 23/20. Leicester City are the clear favourites at a price of 19/20 to take all three points, BTTS is 8/11 and over 2.5 goals is 4/5. 

Double chance: Coventry win or draw @ 4/5

Now, this particular Coventry fan may be getting a little bit carried away, but at least I’ve not just predicted the Sky Blues to beat the table-toppers. There’s reasoning behind this belief too. Cov sit third in the Championship form table after a wonderful Christmas saw them rise to eighth in the table. They have been a different side since switching to four at the back and should have won their last five games on the bounce, had they not conceded a devastating equaliser in the 94th minute against Swansea. 

Mark Robins is one of the finest tacticians in the league and even up against this incredible Leicester team, I just feel the home side can get something in front of a sell-out crowd. With important defender Kitching likely to return to the XI, the Sky Blues could cause a big upset. However, looking at their last two matches against elite opposition at this level, two 1-1 draws vs Leeds and Southampton, I’m comfortable backing the double chance. The exact score of 1-1 is backable at a decent price of 11/2. 

Haji Wright to score anytime @ 12/5

Haji Wright may be the biggest enigma in the Football League right now. The American joined Coventry for a club-record fee in the summer as they tried to replace the departed Viktor Gyokeres. Now deployed on the left-wing, he’s absolutely sensational at times - showing blistering pace and decent dribbling ability for a man of his stature. 

Yet his finishing is still hit and miss. Mainly miss. With eight goals and five assists to his name he is clearly a huge threat for Robins, but he’s also missed the most big chances in the league and realistically, his goal total could be double what it currently is. He’s a huge threat, constantly, during matches and on the break, his pace could cause Leicester problems. Once he finds his goalscoring touch, as he seems to in recent weeks, he is going to be a serious problem at this level - and the 12/5 on him to score anytime is well worth backing.

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