MY ACCOUNT
– Coventry have won only one of their last seven league games
– Norwich are unbeaten against Coventry since 2009
– Recommended bet: Norwich to win to zero
David Wagner secured his first win as Norwich boss last weekend with a 4-0 thumping of Preston and now the Canaries travel to Coventry looking for a repeat.
The German-American tactician, who helped get Huddersfield promoted to the Premier League back in 2017, oversaw a convincing win which was Norwich’s third in four league games on their travels.
Now, they prepare to face Mark Robins’ Coventry who have slipped to 15th in the Championship table following a run of four league games without victory.
However, the Sky Blues are only six points off the play-offs and four points adrift of Norwich in what has been a typically manic and close campaign so far.
Team news
Coventry are set to welcome back central defender Jonathan Panzo after he sat out their 1-0 loss to Burnley last week through suspension.
His return means Robins is likely to revert to his usual back-three formation alongside both Michael Rose and Callum Doyle.
New signing Josh Wilson-Esbrand will be hoping to make his debut after signing from Manchester City on loan last week, though Josh Eccles, Tyler Walker and Matt Godden remain out long-term.
Norwich defender Ben Gibson looks set to return to action from a calf injury that kept him out of their win at Preston last week.
Otherwise, the Canaries have no new injury concerns ahead of the Saturday lunchtime contest.
The stats
Coventry were flying prior to the World Cup break but their momentum has been seriously halted having won only one of their last seven league games.
The Sky Blues were looking well on course for a play-off tilt but now Robins’ men have to find something different in order to stay in contention.
If high-scoring games are your thing then it is probably best to avoid the Coventry, as they have scored just 27 all season with only 21st-place Cardiff and 22nd-place Huddersfield less active in front of goal.
However, they have only let in 27 too which is the joint-best record in the league outside the top two, therefore the game is likely to be settled by fine margins with Norwich hoping to make it back-to-back wins.
The Canaries have picked up more points away from home this season (20 compared to 19 at Carrow Road) and have felt more free compared to the pressure cauldron situation on their own turf.
Winning 4-0 at Preston will have undoubtedly injected confidence, particularly with regards to Teemu Pukki — the Finn grabbed a brace to make it 11 for the season as he still looks a very capable scorer at this level.
The prediction
Neither side are in great form but there were the first signs of the “new manager bounce” for Norwich last weekend.
Wagner knows how to get results at Championship level and the Canaries know how to get results against Coventry — they are unbeaten in seven meetings stretching back to February 2009.
The Sky Blues currently have a lack of attacking options due to injury — if Viktor Gyokeres isn’t firing then they have issues with regards to goals.
Norwich will certainly fancy their chances and are 3/1 to win to zero with LiveScore Bet.
