Stoke vs Coventry Prediction: Sky Blues can start season with a bang

After an FA Cup semi-final last season, and a Championship play-off final defeat before that, this feels like a massive season for Coventry City. The Sky Blues have been strong in the transfer market over the past 18 months, and so they should be challenging for promotion once again. 

Their opening game in the Championship comes at Stoke City (12:30, Sky Sports+), who also have outside hopes of a play-off push this campaign. Below you can find my Stoke vs Coventry prediction.

Team News

Stoke are going to be without Michael Rose and Ben Pearson for the start of the season, while new signing Sam Gallagher will also miss the opener. The former Blackburn forward has picked up a calf strain, but is expected to play a big part in the rest of the campaign after his £1.5m move. A late decision will have to be made on attacking midfielder Bae Jun-ho, but he was out on the grass on Friday, so may make the bench. 

Meanwhile, Coventry will be without club captain Ben Sheaf, as he still works his way back to full fitness. Rapha Borges Rodrigues will also miss this one as he hasn’t played a big part in pre-season due to an injury while Haji Wright could start on the bench as he has also lacked minutes this summer. 

Stoke vs Coventry Odds

Stoke are 6/4 to win this game on home soil, with Coventry priced up as the marginal outsiders at 7/4. A draw can be backed at 5/2, over 2.5 goals is 4/5 and BTTS is 8/13. 

Championship Odds

Coventry to win @ 7/4 

I’m surprised to see Stoke listed as the favourites heading into this one. They are at home, but in my mind, they are pushing to break into the top-10 this season, while Coventry should be striving for promotion. The loss of Sheaf is a big one, but as I think we will see on several occasions this term, Coventry’s attack should carry them through. 

With any three of Ellis Simms, Haji Wright, Ephron Mason-Clark, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Brandon Thomas-Asante set to start, the Sky Blues have real strength in depth up front, something they haven’t had in the past. They will create several chances and given Stoke’s own absentees, should be able to win on the opening weekend. I’m backing Mark Robins and Coventry to have a strong season.

Ellis Simms to score anytime @ 21/10

The former Everton striker took some time to get going in a Sky Blue shirt last term, but in the second half of the campaign the improvement was obvious. Now he looks ready to take this division by storm and the number nine looked incredibly sharp during pre-season, notching against his former side. 

Simms should be targeting 20 goals this term, and I’m backing him to get off to a flying start. Robins has a track record of improving strikers - just look at what he turned Viktor Gyokeres into - so I’m expecting Simms to really kick on in 2024/25. 

Check out our Coventry City Championship Odds here. 

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 50% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down.

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