EFL Championship: Game Week 44
Stadium: Coventry Building Society Arena
22nd April 2023
Coventry City is set to host Reading on Saturday at Coventry Building Society Arena. Who will come out on top after 90 minutes?
Receive Your Welcome Bonus!Coventry City form
Coventry's hopes of reaching the top six seemed to have taken a hit when Sam Gallagher scored for Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday evening. However, in a remarkable turn of events, Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson scored an equaliser from a Gustavo Hamer corner in the 95th minute, causing jubilation among the visiting fans and showcasing the unpredictable nature of the Championship. The result moved Mark Robins's side up to eighth in the table, just one point behind Blackburn in sixth place (though both Blackburn and seventh-placed West Brom have played a game less).
Next up for Coventry is a home match against Reading, who are currently in a relegation battle. Coventry have not won at the CBS Arena since February when they defeated Sunderland, but they will be hoping that Viktor Gyokeres can continue his impressive goal-scoring form. The Swedish striker is second only to Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom in the race for the Championship Golden Boot.
Coventry City Predicted lineup
Wilson; McNally, McFadzean, Doyle; Norton-Cuffy, Kelly, Eccles, Hamer, Wilson-Esbrand; Gyokeres, Godden
Reading Form
Over the past week, Reading has managed to secure two draws in front of their home crowd at Berkshire following the departure of Paul Ince. Although Noel Hunt was pleased with his team's effort in these matches against Luton and Burnley, he knows that winning is crucial to ensure the team's stay in the second tier of English football next season.
Currently sitting in the 22nd spot in the Championship standings, Reading is one point behind Safety with only three games left to play. The team's six-point deduction after breaching a business plan proposed by the EFL has made their situation more precarious.
Reading's home and away performances have also been significantly different this season, with only six of their 43 second-tier points secured away from home. The team's last victory on the road was in November, making their current predicament even more challenging. Despite the pre-season predictions of a possible relegation battle, the Royals' current situation has been disheartening for their supporters. However, upcoming games against Wigan Athletic and Huddersfield Town present a real chance to escape the drop.
Reading possible lineup
Lumley; Yiadom, Holmes, Sarr, Guinness-Walker; Azeez, Hendrick, Casadei, Fornah; Joao, Camara
Coventry City vs Reading Expert Tips
Coventry has been in excellent form lately, as they are unbeaten in their last four matches and have lost only one of their previous 14 games. Moreover, they have lost only one of their previous seven home games, which gives them a good chance to secure a positive outcome this weekend. In contrast, Reading's recent form has not been as impressive, as they have recorded two consecutive draws and have not won any of their last 10 matches. Furthermore, they have not been able to secure an away victory this year, which may result in a defeat for them in this upcoming match. Expect less than 2.5 goals in the game.