Coventry City vs Leeds United: Preview and Prediction

Leeds United will aim to continue their recent unbeaten run and solidify their position atop the EFL Championship table when they take on Coventry City on Wednesday.

The 2024/25 EFL Championship season resumes this week with Matchday 31, stretching from Tuesday until the weekend. Coventry City vs Leeds United will be the only match on Wednesday, with both teams eager to continue their recent unbeaten runs in the second division.

Coventry City endured a brutal start to the 2024/25 season, falling into the drop zone after winning only two games in the opening 11 games. So, Mark Robins lost his job before Frank Lampard replaced him at the helm. The former Chelsea boss began with two victories in his first five outings but has overseen a run of only one defeat in the subsequent eight matches. The run has taken the Sky Blues from 17th to 11th in the standings.

On the other hand, Leeds United came into the 2024/25 season after the catastrophic failure to return to the Premier League last term. However, the Whites have stepped up in the ongoing campaign, losing only twice while sitting atop the EFL Championship table since Matchday 23. They have also not lost a league game since November.

The reverse fixture saw Leeds United cruise to a 3-0 win over Coventry City, with Wilfried Gnonto, Jayden Bogle, and Joel Piroe finding the back of the net. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.

Team News & Tactics

Coventry City

Frank Lampard has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Coventry City manager will be bereft of the services of only three first-team players vs Leeds United on Wednesday.

Matt Grimes should be available after missing the game against Swansea City. However, Ben Sheaf (muscle), Ephron Mason-Clark (hamstring), and Haji Wright (knock) remain on the sidelines, although Sheaf is closing in on returning to action.

Oliver Dovin should take his spot between the sticks, with Coventry City lining up in a 3-5-2 formation in front of him vs Leeds United on Wednesday. The central defensive unit should feature Joel Latibeaudiere, Bobby Thomas, and Liam Kitching. Milan van Ewijk and Jake Bidwell will likely start as the two wing-backs.

The wide duo should provide width in the final third and protect the central defenders in the defensive phases. As for the midfield unit, Matt Grimes should accompany Jamie Allen and Jack Rudoni in the middle of the park. Finally, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms should be the two strikers for the home side.

Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Dovin; Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching; van Ewijk, Grimes, Allen, Rudoni, Bidwell; Simms, Thomas-Asante

Leeds United

Like his counterpart in the Coventry City dugout, Daniel Farke has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena. The Leeds United manager will be without only one first-team player on Wednesday.

Patrick Bamford is the only absentee, although the experienced striker is closing in on returning to action from his hamstring issue. Otherwise, Farke has a full-strength squad for Wednesday’s EFL Championship clash.

Illan Meslier is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Leeds United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Coventry City on Wednesday. The backline should feature Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo.

As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell, with Ilia Gruev being a backup option on the bench. Brenden Aaronson will reprise the no. 10 role, with Daniel James and Manor Solomon being the two wide attackers. Finally, Joel Piroe will lead the line for Leeds United against Coventry City.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Tanaka, Rothwell; James, Aaronson, Solomon; Piroe

Key Stats

  • Coventry City have won their last two home league games vs Leeds United, and they will be looking to win three successive league matches for the first time since September 1981.
  • Leeds United have lost only three of their 21 most recent league games vs Coventry City (W11 D7), although all three defeats came away from home.
  • Coventry City are unbeaten at home in the EFL Championship under Frank Lampard in six matches (W4 D2), the longest unbeaten start at home in the league by a manager at the club since Jimmy Hill in 1961/62 (first 7).
  • Leeds United have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four away league games, only one fewer than their opening 10 Championship matches on the road this term (4).
  • Since losing his first three managerial games against Leeds United in all competitions from August 2018 to May 2019, Frank Lampard has won three of his last four against the Whites (D1).

Player to Watch

Brenden Aaronson

Embed from Getty Images

While Joel Piroe, Daniel James, and Ellis Simms were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Brenden Aaronson as our Player to Watch for Wednesday’s EFL Championship game between Coventry City and Leeds United.

Creative output has been an issue for the Whites this season. So, the onus will be on Aaronson to deliver the goods in the final third to bring Daniel James, Joel Piroe, and Manor Solomon into the picture. Expect a game-changing performance from the American attacker.

Prediction

Coventry City 2-2 Leeds United

The confidence is rising in the Coventry City camp, and they should fancy their prospects of taking something from the game vs the high-flying Leeds United. The Sky Blues are unbeaten at home under Frank Lampard, with the former Chelsea boss forging a solid team combination.

On the other hand, Daniel Farke has found his groove at Leeds United, with opponents struggling to get the better of the Whites. So, there might not be much to separate the two teams, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between Coventry City and Leeds United this midweek.

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