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Horse Racing Coventry vs Leicester Predictions: Tips and Best Bets Preview
Saturday’s 12:30 Championship clash between Coventry vs Leicester takes focus in our predictions and tips betting preview. Mutual hatred and two in-form teams in front of the Sky cameras – it really does promise to be a frantic affair.
The two sides played out an entertaining match in August, with the Foxes emerging 2-1 winners. With that in mind, Matthew O’Regan has three Coventry vs Leicester goalscorer predictions to delve into for the M69 derby.
Coventry vs Leicester Predictions and Tips Preview
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 1: Thomas Cannon to Score Anytime
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 2: Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to score Anytime
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 3: Stephy Mavididi to Score Anytime
In this article:
- Coventry vs Leicester Team News
- The Predicted Championship Table
- Coventry vs Leicester Stats Preview
- How to watch Coventry vs Leicester
- Safer Gambling
Coventry vs Leicester Tip 1: Firing the Cannon
England, Championship ,Saturday, January 13th, 12:30 (UK)
Leicester suffered a shock relegation from the Premier League last season, just a few years after their famous Premier League title. A return to the Championship for the first time since 2014 was seen as the perfect opportunity for a reset, shifting players on big wages, such as Youri Tielemans, Ayoze Perez and Caglar Soyuncu, as well as fetching big fees for star players such as James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
Leicester turned to Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca in an attempt to change their fortunes, and the Foxes haven’t looked back since. The Italian has his side playing exciting football, and they look a certainty for an instant return to the Premier League, sitting 13 points clear of third-place Leeds United. Not only does Leicester boast the best defensive record with only 18 conceded, but their 54 goals scored is the highest by six goals.
Fit and firing
Now fit again, Thomas Cannon is expected to be the player to fire Leicester to promotion. The on-loan Everton striker has been riddled with injuries since arriving at the KingPower, so he has only managed to start the last two games. However, the 21-year-old has impressed in his brief spells so far, bagging a brace in the 4-1 demolition of Huddersfield before scoring in the 2-3 cup victory at Millwall.
Cannon’s brace was clinical against the Terriers, scoring two of his three shots at a combined xG of 0.62, a testament to his prolific finishing. He was slightly less clinical against Millwall, scoring just one of five shots. However, all five shots were in and around the six-yard box – a positive sign for goalscorer backers.
The Irishman is no stranger to scoring in the Championship, having scored eight goals in 21 appearances for Preston last season. Now playing for a much stronger Leicester side, Cannon should have the opportunity to find the back of the net. We could see some real value in his goalscoring prices in the coming weeks.
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 1: Thomas Cannon to Score Anytime
- Best Odds: 3.25
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 5/10
Coventry vs Leicester Tip 2: Sakamoto proving his worth
Coventry City are the envy of a lot of Championship teams, with the Sky Blues reaching last year’s playoff final. They excel in finding players in undervalued markets and fine-tuning them into players ready for the top flight. Gustavo Hamer was the latest talent to depart to the Premier League, and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto could well be the next diamond unearthed.
The Japanese star arrived from Belgian side Oostende in the summer, having to failed to score a league goal in two seasons for De Kustboys. However, the talent was undoubtedly there, with the 27-year-old touted for a move to England for his electric performances.
Sakamoto has found his goal-scoring touch in recent weeks, boasting five goals in his last four league games, scoring a brace in wins at Middlesbrough and at home to Sheffield Wednesday. The 27-year-old is almost Arjen Robben-esque in his ability to cut inside and fire left-footed shots at goal.
His shot output has increased in recent weeks, averaging 3.25 shots per match in his last five matches. Sakamoto’s intelligence is an underrated aspect of his game, with the Japan winger often popping up in goal-scoring positions. This was notable in the 3-1 win at Middlesbrough, with Sakamoto popping up at the back post to head home his second.
The odds of 5.50 for an inform player to score at his home ground are too good to turn down.
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 2: Tatushiro Sakamoto to Score Anytime
- Best Odds: 5.50
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 3/10
Coventry vs Leicester Tip 3: Marksman Mavididi
The final selection of the trio of goalscorers is summer signing Stephy Mavididi.
A product of Arsenal’s famous Hale End academy, Mavididi moved to Juventus at a 20-year-old in the search for first-team minutes. The move didn’t go as planned, so Montpellier took a risk and signed the talented forward. Twenty-one league goals over three seasons provided a very healthy return, prompting the Foxes to sign him for a fee rumoured to be around £7.50 million.
The 25-year-old has had a glittering start to his Championship career with 13 goal contributions in 14 starts. Possessing an abundance of tricks and pace, Mavididi is a real handful for defenders and is a real outlet for the Foxes.
Like Cannon and Sakamoto, Mavididi has found his form as the season has gone on, scoring six goals in his last seven, including braces against Plymouth and Birmingham. And that’s exactly why he rounds off this Coventry vs Leicester predictions and tips preview. With the creative Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pulling the strings, Leicester should get plenty of scoring chances in an exciting affair.
- Coventry vs Leicester Tip 3: Stephy Mavididi to Score Anytime
- Best Odds: 3.25
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 5/10
Coventry vs Leicester predictions odds via bet365 as at 9:00 January 9, 2024. Odds may now differ.
Coventry vs Leicester Team News Preview: AFCON affecting Foxes more than Robins
Liam Kitching misses the game for the hosts after being sent off in the boxing day victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Mark Robins will be delighted that in-form winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto remains at the club, with Hajime Moriyasu snubbing the 27-year-old from his squad.
AFCON has affected the Foxes, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka representing Nigeria and Zambia, respectively. Wilfried Ndidi, Jamie Vardy and Kasey McAteer are likely out with injury.
The Predicted Championship Table
BETSiE, our in-house predictive model, predicts that this is a 10th vs 1st match-up in the Championship if we’re talking about end of season league standings. Mark Robins and his Coventry side will scoff at that prediction, though their early season form has handed them a rather large hill to climb and get over if playoff football is to be a reality in the Midlands.
Playoff football is something far away from the Foxes’ train of thought. If this Leicester side aren’t promoted as Champions this season then something has gone wrong. Yes, Southampton, Leeds, and Ipswich will offer solid competition, but with the quality at their disposal and the start they’ve made in the second tier, BETSiE’s prediction of Championship crown looks bang-on at the halfway stage of the campaign.
| SITION | CLUB | GAMES | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 46 | 32.1 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 87.5 | 35.6 | 51.9 | 103.0 |
| 2 | Southampton | 46 | 25.7 | 11.9 | 8.5 | 77.5 | 48.7 | 28.8 | 88.9 |
| 3 | Leeds | 46 | 26.0 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 79.2 | 39.6 | 39.6 | 88.6 |
| 4 | Ipswich | 46 | 25.4 | 12.2 | 8.4 | 76.7 | 52.8 | 23.9 | 88.5 |
| 5 | West Brom | 46 | 22.1 | 11.5 | 12.4 | 63.1 | 39.4 | 23.7 | 77.7 |
| 6 | Sunderland | 46 | 21.1 | 8.9 | 15.9 | 65.8 | 50.5 | 15.3 | 72.3 |
| 7 | Hull | 46 | 20.2 | 11.3 | 14.5 | 67.1 | 55.4 | 11.7 | 71.8 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 21.0 | 7.8 | 17.2 | 70.1 | 60.0 | 10.1 | 70.7 |
| 9 | Coventry | 46 | 17.9 | 15.1 | 13.0 | 66.0 | 49.7 | 16.3 | 68.7 |
| 10 | Watford | 46 | 16.2 | 14.3 | 15.4 | 65.5 | 60.0 | 5.5 | 63.0 |
| 11 | Bristol City | 46 | 16.6 | 12.0 | 17.4 | 48.8 | 48.3 | 0.4 | 61.8 |
| 12 | Millwall | 46 | 14.9 | 13.4 | 17.7 | 50.1 | 55.1 | -5.0 | 58.0 |
| 13 | Blackburn | 46 | 16.9 | 6.7 | 22.4 | 65.8 | 78.6 | -12.9 | 57.4 |
| 14 | Norwich | 46 | 15.9 | 9.7 | 20.4 | 65.7 | 74.2 | -8.5 | 57.4 |
| 15 | Cardiff | 46 | 15.7 | 9.4 | 20.8 | 50.9 | 60.5 | -9.6 | 56.7 |
| 16 | Swansea | 46 | 14.0 | 12.9 | 19.1 | 58.1 | 69.4 | -11.3 | 54.9 |
| 17 | Preston | 46 | 14.6 | 10.7 | 20.7 | 45.9 | 69.6 | -23.6 | 54.4 |
| 18 | Stoke | 46 | 13.4 | 13.6 | 19.1 | 45.3 | 56.1 | -10.8 | 53.7 |
| 19 | Plymouth | 46 | 12.9 | 12.7 | 20.4 | 67.6 | 78.2 | -10.5 | 51.4 |
| 20 | Birmingham | 46 | 12.5 | 12.1 | 21.4 | 50.3 | 70.0 | -19.6 | 49.7 |
| 21 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 13.0 | 9.7 | 23.3 | 42.1 | 61.8 | -19.7 | 48.7 |
| 22 | Huddersfield | 46 | 9.7 | 15.5 | 20.8 | 42.3 | 71.0 | -28.7 | 44.5 |
| 23 | QPR | 46 | 10.6 | 12.0 | 23.4 | 37.6 | 59.2 | -21.7 | 43.8 |
| 24 | Rotherham | 46 | 6.4 | 13.8 | 25.8 | 38.3 | 83.5 | -45.2 | 33.0 |
The reverse head-to-head in Leicester: Curtain raised by a timely brace
Leicester 2-1 Coventry, King Power Stadium, Championship.
The most recent clash between these two acted as the opening game of the Championship season for both, pulling the curtain back on what has been a terrific season to date. Coventry and Leicester delivered a captivating 90 minutes bubbling with intense competition and, ultimately, a game-winning Dewsbury-Hall brace. Leicester, known for their dynamic and fluid style, faced a Coventry side that showed resilience and tactical discipline throughout the game.
The match was balanced, with both teams creating significant scoring opportunities. However, Leicester eventually clinched the victory, courtesy of a brilliantly executed late goal by Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall in the 87th minute, ten minutes after his equaliser.
The goal was a result of Leicester’s persistent pressure and creative attacking play, which finally broke through Coventry’s staunch defensive setup. The Sky Blues broke the deadlock after 47 minutes, though it was always going to be challenging to fend off this Foxes side for the entirety.
Despite the 2-1 loss, Coventry’s performance was noteworthy, particularly their defensive organisation and the ability to threaten Leicester aerially and from set-pieces. The early August match highlighted the tactical acumen of both managers and showcased the high level of competition in the league, with the underdogs displaying their capability of challenging a side bursting with riches that had just dropped down from the Premier League.
Coventry vs Leicester Stats Preview: Handy up top and tight at the back
- Leicester top the goalscoring charts with 54 goals.
- Leicester also boast the best defensive record, conceding just 18
- Only Leeds, Leicester and West Brom have conceded less than Coventry’s 28.
- Leicester rank 1st for form in the last 10 games, picking up 26 points.
- Coventry sit third in the ten-game form standings, gaining 21 points.
- Leicester are unbeaten in the last seven head-to-heads, with Coventry’s last victory coming in 2008.
How To Watch
- Coventry vs Leicester, Championship
- Date and Time: Saturday 13th January, 12:30 (UK)
- How to Watch or Stream on TV (UK): Sky Sports Football
SAFER GAMBLING
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