After what has seemed like an eternity of offline existence (thanks a lot Sky!) the blog is finally able to return for good this evening, and we return to live Championship football on Sky Sports.
At the beginning of the new season, many were already writing off the chances of Coventry City surviving in their battle against relegation this season. With a sustained lack of investment worrying even the most die-hard ‘sky blues’ fan, four consecutive defeats to begin the season (including a 3-1 defeat at League One side Bury in the Carling Cup) did nothing to instil any sense of renewed optimism.
However, since a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on the 16th of August (where Coventry took a 1-0 lead into stoppage time), Andy Thorn’s side have been unbeaten in three Championship matches, including an away draw at Middlesbrough and an impressive 2-0 home victory against Derby County.
The chances of this recent upturn in form being sustained through the contest tonight have been bolstered by the (BBC reported) news that Clive Platt and Gary McSheffrey both may return to the squad, while recent signing from Norwich Cody McDonald should be available to make his second start for the club, if Thorn opts to start him over Freddy Eastwood.
If Coventry were tipped as relegation certainties, many more pre-season comments were centred on the possibility of Ipswich being Championship dark-horses this season. However, the Tractor Boys start has been far more Eeyore than Shergar. With Paul Jewell at the helm, and signings such as Jimmy Bullard, Keith Andrews and Lee Bowyer, it is easy to see why many expected Ipswich to be pushing at the top end of the table. However, despite a 3-0 win at Bristol City on the opening day of the season, Ipswich find themselves just one point (6) and one place (17th) above their rivals tonight. Defensively, Ipswich have provided much more in the way of feast rather than famine. Their 3-0 win in Bristol was the only game this season where they have kept a clean sheet, and losing 7-1 at Peterborough and 5-2 at Southampton have contributed heavily the worst defensive record in the division.
Town lost 2-0 last time out at Blackpool, and while their last home game saw them pick up a 2-1 victory against Leeds, that result was flattered by not only a stoppage time winner, but also by the fact that Leeds were reduced to 10 men when leading 1-0 on 50 minutes.
All in all, this is a very tough match from a betting perspective. Coventry are more than likely enjoying a decent run rather than having turned a major corner in terms of their future fortunes, a run that is likely to end soon. However, the evidence of the Sky cameras this season has been clear – a 2-0 Coventry win over Derby and a 7-1 humiliation for Ipswich at Peterborough. However, Paul Jewell is the perfect manager to get a response from his players and to use their previous television capitulation as motivation for a better performance tonight, and the Tractor Boys did display something of a fighting spirit in turning around the game against Leeds last time out at Portman Road.
In the end, while the gut says that Ipswich could well be value at 11/10 to record the home win, the performances have not been there for the hosts, meaning that now may not be the time to put money down on a change of fortunes. Instead, ‘both teams to score’ looks like the most solid wager for a small interest with the attacking qualities of both sides – Coventry have scored on every away trip this season – and the fragile home defence. Expect a nervy game with all three results being live and on the table.
Suggestion:
0.5pts ‘Both Teams to Score’ @ 8/11 (@ Boyle, Coral and Ladbrokes)
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