Coventry vs Blackburn Prediction: More misery ahead for Sky Blues?

Life as a Coventry fan isn’t much fun right now. I witnessed the 3-0 hammering from Leeds United in person at Elland Road on Saturday, where the Sky Blues barely laid a glove on Daniel Farke’s men. The Sky Blues now sit 21st in the table after seven matches, and for the first time in Mark Robins’ reign, it feels like he is under pressure. 

The fanbase remains fully behind him, but there are some concerns that owner Doug King may lose patience, given the squad has been bolstered with signings amounting to around £40m after the sales of Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer. It means the game with unbeaten Blackburn on Tuesday night (19:45, Sky Sports+), takes on huge significance. Below you can find my Coventry vs Blackburn prediction. 

Team News

Guessing Coventry’s starting XI right now is extremely difficult. Robins doesn’t know his best team, the back line is chopping and changing and there’s a lack of belief from the forwards. I’d expect Haji Wright and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to start out wide as the Sky Blues look to find a goalscoring spark, while Ben Sheaf should start again having completed 60 minutes against Leeds. Oliver Dovin may return in goal having been dropped, while there are cases for both Jake Bidwell and Luis Binks to come into a shaky backline.

Owen Beck remains suspended for Rovers after his straight red card against Preston North End, while there is concern over left-back Harry Pickering. He didn’t train on Friday due to illness, and was forced off against QPR at half-time, with a combination of Ryan Hedges and Joe Rankin-Costello filling in for him in the second period. 

Todd Cantwell impressed off the bench last time out and will be pushing for a start if John Eustace decides to freshen things up, while Tyrhys Dolan will look to provide the attacking outlet behind Yuki Ohashi. Dom Hyam and Kyle McFadzean will return to the CBS Arena to face their former club. 

Coventry vs Blackburn Odds

Coventry are somewhat surprisingly favourites to win this game, priced at 1/1 to get three points, while Blackburn are available at 13/5 to win this one. A draw can be backed at 13/5, over 2.5 goals is 8/11 and BTTS is 8/13. 

Wright is the favourite to open the scoring at 5/1 along with Ellis Simms, while a 1-1 scoreline priced at 6/1. 

Blackburn to win @ 13/5

I just don’t have any faith whatsoever in Coventry right now. Robins doesn’t have a settled defence, the players are lacking confidence, and the fans are fragile. Against a resolute and talented Blackburn outfit who are unbeaten so far and flying, I think the first goal will be crucial and if it goes against the home side, the players are likely to crumble. 

There’s seemingly no leaders in this Coventry side, and very little Championship experience. Meanwhile, Blackburn have dug in at different times this term to remain undefeated, and now have the added sparkle of Cantwell in their ranks. I can see them coming away from the CBS Arena with three points, just as Swansea and Norwich have done already this term. 

This is a gargantuan game for Coventry’s season, and the future of their manager. This seemingly perfect relationship doesn’t deserve to end on a sour note. 

Yuki Ohashi to score anytime @ 21/10

Blackburn’s summer arrival has had a terrific start to life at Ewood Park. Having arrived from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, he has already scored four goals in six league games so far. After the departures of Sammie Szmodics and Sam Gallagher, Rovers needed somebody to step up to the plate, and Ohashi has emerged as their number one striker - currently keeping fellow newbie Makhtar Gueye out of the XI. 

Eustace, and the rest of the squad, seem to enjoy the energy he brings up front, but just focusing on that would be disrespectful to his quality in the box. He’s a top finisher, and with Coventry’s weak underbelly, I think he will find the net at the CBS. The grey clouds are lingering around the city, and a Blackburn win could make it pour.

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