Another big week in the Sky Bet Championship gets underway on Friday night when two sides from the midlands open up the show with the race for the top six in the spotlight as West Bromwich Albion host Coventry City.
Just five points separate these two in the table with West Brom heading into the weekend in fifth spot while Coventry are in ninth and looking to come with a good final quarter to reach the play-offs for the second season in succession.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football channels with the build-up beginning at 7.30pm and the kick off coming at The Hawthorns at 8pm.
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom are in the middle of a successful season but as we move into the final quarter of the season they won’t need reminding that they were in a position to launch and reach the play-offs this time last term and fluffed their lines, so supporters will be keen that there is no repeat of that from here on in. This West Brom side are much harder to beat despite losing 10 matches this term. Only the top two have conceded fewer than their 32 goals this season which is a positive.
Another positive is the form at The Hawthorns where in the Championship they have only been beaten three times, although one of those came in their last match here, albeit to Southampton who can beat most teams at this level on their day. If there is a worry for the Baggies it would come in the amount of goals they score. Only Preston in the top nine have scored fewer than them and teams rarely get put to the sword and that extra mental baggage can catch up with you at the end of the season.
Coventry City
It has already been a positive week for Coventry City as they have moved into the quarter final of the FA Cup where they are 90 minutes from a second trip to Wembley in as many seasons. They will want to get back to the national stadium in the league though and go one better than they did last term, and if that is to happen you get the feeling this is a match they can’t afford to lose but probably need to win else West Brom will get away from them.
The Sky Blues are one of the better teams in the Championship on their travels so that bodes well and their 27 goals in 17 matches away from home shows that they are not afraid to take advantage of the space which is left for them. It will be interesting to see if the midweek exertions have any impact here but this Coventry squad is a little deeper than last season overall, even if the stars of the previous campaign have left, and that should serve them well.
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Team News
Carlos Corberan has ruled Matt Phillips and Josh Maja out of this match and might not have either until after the international break. They join Daryl Dike, Jayson Molumby and Brandon Thomas-Asante as being confirmed as missing for this one.
Mark Robins has suggested that Haji Wright will be available to take his place in the squad for this match for the visitors but Coventry are going to remain without Ben Sheaf and Jamie Allen. Callum O’Haire will be looking to start.
Betting
This is a decent looking game between two of the better sides in the Sky Bet Championship. I never like to go against West Brom at home because they have been very good at The Hawthorns under Carlos Corberan but at the same time I am full of respect for Coventry City on the road, although my enthusiasm for backing them here is tempered because of their midweek outing in heavy conditions anyway I have to say.
The bet I like in this one is for both teams to find the back of the net. I do think you can get at this Coventry side and they may well surrender a goal or two in this one against a West Brom side who will be looking to be on the front foot here. Coventry are lively on the counter though and can offer both skill and pace and they are not sure of power in the attacking areas either. This isn’t a fixture which has a history of both teams scoring but with West Brom looking to defend their top six spot and Coventry chasing one down neither will see losing as an option here so I fancy both to find the net before the final whistle blows.
Tips
Back Both teams to score for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
