Stoke vs Coventry predictions: Sky Blues can start with a win
- Stoke have won just four of their last 16 home Championship games
- Only Millwall scored fewer home goals in the second tier than Stoke last season
- Recommended bet: Coventry to win
Coventry saw their Championship play-off push fade with a series of poor results at the end of last season so will be looking to make up for lost time as they head to Stoke for their opening league game of the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Potters will want to leave a lot more space between themselves and the bottom three this time after finishing last term down in a disappointing 17th.
Team news
New Stoke striker Sam Gallagher suffered a calf injury in a friendly with AZ Alkmaar and is doubtful, while Ryan Mmaee has been suffering with tonsillitis.
For Coventry, Ben Sheaf and Raphael hope to be involved after recoverin from pre-season injuries. Haji Wright may not start after suffering an ankle issue, while Liam Kitching is suspended.
The stats
Stoke lost just one of their final eight Championship games last season.
However, the Potters won just four of their final 16 home league matches last term.
Both teams have scored in only four of their last 17 Championship outings on their own patch.
Only Millwall scored fewer home goals than Stoke did last term.
Ten of Coventry’s last 12 league away matches have featured at least three goals.
Prediction
After falling to Luton in the play-off final the season before, Coventry will have been disappointed not to have bagged a top-six finish last term, but it was little surprise that their league campaign faded after they reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
The club has suffered with its off-the-field problems in recent years, but there is plenty of optimism that Mark Robins’ side can make a strong promotion push and they can get their campaign off to a winning start when they head up the M6 to face Stoke.
The Potters lost just one of their final eight league games of last term, compared to Coventry losing five of their final six, but their home record was not great as they struggled to score goals on their own patch, where they failed to win 12 of their final 16 outings.
The Sky Blues have a strong attacking threat to repel and even if Haji Wright is able to only play a limited role, Ellis Simms will take some containing, while attacking midfielder Jack Roudini has been receiving rave reviews since making a summer move from Huddersfield.
Stoke endured a disappointing 2023-24 overall when finishing 17th, and it is difficult to see them getting into the promotion mix this time around.
This could be an early examination in which their shortcomings are exposed by a team tipped to be involved at the top.
