2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Week 20 – Friday

Coventry City host Birmingham City in a mid-table Sky Bet Championship clash. 

Victory would lift Coventry up to 14th in the table, whilst Birmingham can go 13th if win by at least three goals.

 

Team News

Coventry have no fresh injury concerns to report after their defeat at Ipswich last weekend, although some unspecified players are struggling with knocks.

Kasey Palmer (groin) and Fabio Tavares (Achilles) remain absent.

Birmingham will be without defender, Ethan Laird after he suffered a groin injury during their goalless draw against Rotherham.

Alfie Chang (knee), Keshi Anderson, George Hall (both hamstring) and Tyler Roberts (calf)

 

When is Kick-Off?

Coventry host Birmingham City at CBS Arena on Friday 8 December in a 8pm GMT kick-off, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Coventry are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings against Birmingham (W2, D5).
• Birmingham City are winless in their last five away games against Coventry (D3, L2), including a goalless draw in November 2020 when ground shared at St Andrew’s Stadium.
• Three of Coventry’s last six meetings against Birmingham have ended in 0-0 draws.
• Coventry have kept clean sheets in three of their last five home games (W2, D2, L1).
• Birmingham are winless in their last seven away matches (L7).

 

Prediction

Despite having shown a small up-turn in fortunes in recent games, Coventry were always facing a difficult ask at Ipswich so this feels like a chance to take the lessons from that experience and starting building upon those positives here,

Birmingham meanwhile have been inconsistent under Wayne Rooney in recent weeks which shows just how well John Eustace did earlier in the season, especially after a lacklustre draw against Rotherham where there was little quality and intensity to offer.

Now if Birmingham roll up with a similar performance despite having scored in their last three away matches, I can see Coventry delivering a win if they improve their end product and cut out their defensive errors.

Prediction: Coventry 1-0 Birmingham

Result: Coventry 2-0 Birmingham