Coventry vs Birmingham prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-07 20:00.
Coventry boss Mark Robins said that a schooling by promotion-chasing Ipswich last weekend was “like watching us last season”, with the stark contrast between last season’s play-off finalist Sky Blues team and the mid-table struggling version we’ve seen so far this term evident for all to see. That was a seventh defeat in 19 already this league season, just five fewer than the tally they lost in all 46 league fixtures last season en-route to Wembley.
On a more positive note for Robins’ side, they were unbeaten in three before that result in Suffolk, recording back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign in the process. Added to that, Coventry have still only been beaten once on home soil (W3, D5, L1) this term, and boast an unbeaten run of six (W2, D4) in their most recent H2Hs with Friday night’s opponents, former landlords Birmingham.
That record won’t be one under-pressure Blues manager Wayne Rooney will want to hear, especially after being booed off by his home fans at St Andrew’s after a goalless draw against strugglers Rotherham on Saturday, picking up a point they were “fortunate to come away with” by his own admission.
Sitting in mid-table just a point better off than their hosts, Birmingham have managed just one victory (D2, L5) under the former Manchester United legend, leaving fans wondering why the club got rid of former manager John Eustace. Whether he can turn things around here remains to be seen as Rooney comes up against former United striker Robins, a coach he’s faced five times prior in the dugout – more than anyone else – without success whilst at Derby (D3, L2).
Players to watch: Coventry striker Ellis Simms scored against Birmingham for Sunderland last season, the only other time he’s faced Friday’s opponents to date. Young counterpart Jay Stansfield avoided picking up a fifth yellow card of the campaign ahead of the amnesty cut-off on Saturday, and will now look to add to his two away goals of the season which both came in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Hot streak: Birmingham have conceded the first goal of the game in five straight away matches, losing seven on the spin on their travels overall.