Coventry City
- Coventry have the best home record in the Championship, winning 12, drawing three and losing just once in 16 matches at the CBS Arena.
- The Sky Blues have a formidable home record, taking 39 points from 16 games.
- City sit top of the pile with 65 points from 33 games, 21 ahead of Stoke, who have played the same number of games and are on 44 points.
Stoke
- Stoke have failed to win any of their last three away games and have won only six of their 17 Championship road games, drawing four and losing seven.
- Stoke have not won any of their last five games, drawing three and losing two, and failed to score in their 1-0 away defeat to Charlton in midweek.
- Mark Robins took over at Stoke in January 2025 after leaving Coventry and the Potters have tightened up defensively and become more solid under his tutelage, but they remain short of consistency.
- Defender Ben Wilmot has been their unlikely hero in recent weeks, scoring both of their goals in the last five-game sequence.
Head-to-Head
- Coventry have won three of the last five meetings between these sides, including a 1-0 victory away at Stoke three months ago in the Championship.
- The Sky Blues are unbeaten in their last two at home with a win and a draw and Stoke have failed to win in their last two trips to Coventry.
Key Players
- Frank Lampard has done a fantastic job at Coventry since taking over as head coach in November 2024, instilling a hard-to-play against style of play that combines creative, multi-dimensional attacking play with ruthless directness and selected moments of high-pressure pressing.
- Haji Wright, with 13 goals in 29 appearances, is their main goal threat and has scored three of Coventry’s last seven goals, but creative spark Callum O’Hare is their key to unlocking defences with his ability to link up in Lampard’s system.
- Stoke, on the other hand, have a much more defensive structure, relying on staying compact and keeping their shape before making quick transitions when they win possession.
Betting Insights
- Coventry City are the clear favorites at 1.51 to beat 16th-placed Stoke at the CBS Arena on Saturday, but the visitors are coming in at 5.9 and the tie is 4.2.
- Backing ‘Over 2.5 goals’ at 1.62 could have some value in this matchup as Lampard’s side like to put games away when they can and Stoke, for all their defensive strength, are struggling to find the net.
Prediction
Given Coventry’s superior form at home and in the league overall, the 1.51 on the hosts to repeat their recent back-to-back victories over Middlesbrough ( 3-1 ) and West Brom ( 2-0 ) looks too low.
