Coventry vs Cardiff predictions: Bluebirds can bounce back
- Coventry have not won any of their last four fixtures
- Cardiff have drawn three of their last four away matches
- Recommended bet: Cardiff or draw double chance
Frank Lampard has been unveiled as the new man in the Coventry hotseat and his first challenge is a key encounter at home to fellow strugglers Cardiff.
Eighteen months have expired since Lampard finished a disappointing spell as caretaker Chelsea manager which delivered one victory from 11 matches.
And he inherits a Coventry side positioned 17th in the Championship and low on confidence, having won only four of 17 league fixtures.
While Coventry have decided on a way forward, Cardiff remain under the stewardship of interim manager Omer Riza.
The Welsh side started positively under the 45-year-old but have slipped to 21st place after taking one point from their last four fixtures.
Team news
Lampard is unable to call on Coventry’s top scorer, Haji Wright, who is sidelined with a leg injury.
Goalkeeper Ben Wilson (knee) and winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues (leg) are also ruled out.
Cardiff have been dealt a major blow with winger Anwar El Ghazi (groin) facing a few weeks on the sidelines.
Aaron Ramsey, Ryotaro Tsunoda (muscle strains) and Kion Etete (leg) remain out of contention.
The stats
Coventry have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine matches.
The Sky Blues have won only four of their last 23 Championship fixtures.
Two of Coventry’s last three matches have finished 2-2.
Cardiff have conceded the first goal in four of their last five fixtures.
Five of Cardiff’s last seven games have featured less than three goals.
Prediction
Coventry are hoping for a new manager bounce in their first match under Frank Lampard but their winless run is set to extend to five games with a failure to defeat Cardiff.
Normally it would be a disadvantage to play against a club with a new manager but that may not be the case for Cardiff, because Coventry fans are far from universally happy with the recent decisions taken by owner, Doug King,
Many were unhappy when long-term manager Mark Robins was dismissed and their mood has not improved due to a three-game winless run under temporary manager Rhys Carr.
Coventry’s recent struggles mean a tricky inheritance for Lampard, who takes charge of a team which has taken just 18 points from the last 23 Championship fixtures.
Lampard’s brief is to get Coventry competing towards the top end of the division but his players are not used to winning and they are far from certain to defeat Cardiff, who are only one point below them.
Cardiff lost 2-0 at home to QPR on Wednesday despite winning the shot count 24 to 10.
However, they have collected 15 points from their last 10 fixtures and look odds-against value to avoid defeat this weekend.
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