Watford vs Coventry City: Betting Odds & Prediction

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Rob Norcup

The playoff zone is within touching distance for Coventry City following their midweek romp vs Rotherham United. The Sky Blues will be looking to maintain their push against an out-of-sorts Watford outfit.

Recent Form

Watford's recent struggles continued as they battled to a 1-1 draw with Swansea on Wednesday night. They've taken only six points from their last nine matches and the result maintained their winless home streak. The Hornets haven't won at Vicarage Road since beating Norwich on November 28th. An improved second-half performance will have pleased Valerien Ismael though. They posed Swansea problems and stood firm instead of wilting.

Coventry were rampant against Championship whipping boys Rotherham on Tuesday night in the second time they’ve netted five goals at the CBS Arena in eight days. The Sky Blues now take to the road for the remainder of March. Following Saturday’s clash with Watford, there’s the huge FA Cup Quarter-Final with West Midlands rivals, Wolves.

Mark Robins will be hoping Ellis Simms continues his rich vein of goalscoring form. The ex-Evertonian bagged his second hat-trick in three games.

Coventry will need to rediscover their consistency if they are to push for a play-off spot though. They went 12 games without tasting defeat during a two month period earlier this season (December to February). That unbeaten run included games against three of the current top four (Southampton, Leeds & Leicester). Their recent form is a bit hit and miss with three wins, two defeats and a draw in their last six.

If this season’s earlier match-up between the sides is anything to go by, the fans are in for an edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster ride. Back in September at the CBS Arena, Coventry drew 3-3 with Watford. Matt Godden missed a 20th minute penalty for the home side at 0-0, but he would spare his blushes late on in the game. In a high-scoring encounter, Godden netted in the 87th minute to grab a vital point for the Sky Blues.

Team News

Watford will be waiting on news of midfielder Ken Sema, who was injured and subbed off in the first half of their midweek clash with Swansea. Sema has been sidelined for spells twice already this season. Full-back Jeremy Ngakia will be out of action for at least four weeks because of a knee problem. He was taken off in the 66th minute of his comeback game (vs Millwall on Saturday), having been out of action since November.

Coventry have three long-term midfield absentees: Ben Sheaf, Jamie Allen, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. Sheaf who picked up a significant hamstring tear in January is battling to be back for the Sky Blues’ FA Cup clash next weekend. Saturday’s match-up at Vicarage Road will come too soon.

Jamie Allen suffered a fractured cheekbone during Coventry’s FA Cup 4th Round win over Sheffield Wednesday is looking like making a return towards the end of March. In regards to Sakamoto, “he will miss the rest of the season" said Coventry boss Robins. The popular winger suffered a serious back injury vs Preston a fortnight ago.

Betting Odds

Watford are 15/8 with Bet365 to bring their winless streak at home to an end, with an implied probability of 34.8%. Coventry are 8/5 with UniBET to add to the Hornets’ woes which carries an implied probability of 38.5%. The stalemate is priced at 5/2 with QuinnBet, with an implied probability of 28.6%.

Prediction

Defences are expected to be stretched at both ends of the Vicarage Road pitch with Coventry’s man of the moment Ellis Simms set to continue his hot scoring streak.

OddsNow's Pick: Over 3.5 Match Goals & Simms to score anytime (9.4/1 @ Bet365)

 

 

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