MY ACCOUNT
– Coventry have won only one of their last five Championship contests
– Watford have failed to win any of their last six away league games
– Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Coventry and Watford have not yet completely given up on forcing themselves into the Championship play-off picture, but time is running out and nothing but victory will suffice for either in the West Midlands.
Coventry sit ninth and have less work to do than their opponents as they are only three points behind sixth-placed Blackburn, whereas Watford are languishing in 12th and have a six-point gap to bridge.
The problem is neither are in convincing form with the hosts having won only one of their last five games and the Hornets having suffered back-to-back defeats to Luton and Huddersfield.
But something has to give at the Coventry Building Society Arena and the desperation for points could contribute to an entertaining encounter.
Team news
Coventry remain without influential midfielders Callum O’Hare and Kasey Palmer as well as young forward Fabio Tavares. Liam Kelly, who has been sidelined since mid-February, is edging closer to a return but is still likely to miss the visit of Watford.
The Hornets have been plagued by injuries all season and that is the case again at Coventry with Tom Cleverley, Dan Gosling, Kortney Hause, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Edo Kayembe and Francisco Sierralta all sidelined.
Number one goalkeeper Daniel Bachman was sent off in Friday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Huddersfield, so Nicholas Bilokapic is likely to deputise in place of the suspended Austrian shot-stopper.
Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis was also a notable absentee from the squad that lost to Huddersfield, which must put his participation against Coventry in doubt just three days on.
The stats
Coventry have been pretty reliable on home soil this season, having lost only five of their 20 league matches on their own patch.
The Sky Blues have lost only one of their last 11, too, but four of those games have ended level, which includes the goalless draw at Swansea last time out.
However, goals are often assured in the matches of Mark Robins’s men as they have managed only two clean sheets in their last eight home league games.
Watford have suffered back-to-back defeats and they have been poor on their travels for much of the campaign, collecting just two points from their last six away league outings.
Chris Wilder is the latest man in the Watford dugout after his appointment on March 7 but he has managed only one win from his five matches in charge.
Wilder’s two away games at the helm have seen them lose on each occasion, failing to score in losses to QPR and Luton.
That said, the Hornets have netted six goals during Wilder’s five-game spell and the presence of Joao Pedro, Britt Assombalonga, Ismaila Sarr, Yaser Asprilla and Ismael Kone means he has plenty of firepower to choose from.
Prediction
There may be an incentive to back Coventry given their strong home form and Watford’s road woes, which have continued despite the appointment of Wilder.
The Hornets have been beaten in their last two league games against Luton and Huddersfield, too, but Wilder is an excellent tactician and it should not be long before he finds a successful formula.
Coventry have hardly been in inspired form, either, which could mean backing both teams to score is the way to go.
Watford have an array of attacking assets at their disposal but defensive deficiencies are costing them dearly, highlighted by Friday’s 3-2 defeat at home to a relegation-threatened Huddersfield.
The visitors have managed only one clean sheet during Wilder’s five-game reign.
But Coventry have also kept just one clean sheet in their last five games with their latest home game resulting in a 4-0 loss against Stoke.
Given both teams still have an outside shot at landing a playoff place, they should be going for broke and that could ensure the goals flow on Easter Monday.
Back both teams to score at 4/5 with :LiveScore Bet.
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