Newcastle visit Coventry on Monday night seeking a seventh straight win over the Sky Blues, who have lost four of their first five Premier League games.
Coventry vs NewcastleSee All Odds
Coventry finally ended their scoring drought with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out, but they remain 19th with three points and are still chasing a first Premier League home win in more than 25 years. Newcastle are 11th after a steady start under Matthias Jaissle, and they return from the international break with Joelinton and Nico Gonzalez back in contention, although goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is out for two months. Kick-off is at 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports.
Who is the Favourite to Win in Coventry v Newcastle?
Latest Odds suggest Newcastle go into the game as favourites, priced at 6/5 to win with Coral, while the draw is available at 5/2 and Coventry are 12/5.
The price reflects Newcastle's superior record in this fixture and Coventry's difficult start to the season, though Jaissle has acknowledged that the hosts have momentum and confidence after their win at the City Ground.
Coventry v Newcastle Best Betting Tip
Best Bet: Newcastle to Win & Over 2.5 Goals
Best odds: 21/10 (William Hill)
Stake: 1pt
Newcastle to win is well supported by the head-to-head record. Coventry have lost four of their last five matches, and they have not beaten Newcastle this century, although the sides last met in 2010, while Newcastle are on a six-game winning streak against them.
The goals market adds a sensible second leg. Over 2.5 goals has cleared in five of Newcastle's last seven games and two of Coventry's last three, and both teams to score has landed in four of Newcastle's last five. Newcastle's expected goals against total of 9.05 is the third-highest in the Premier League and Coventry's 8.64 is not far behind, which points to an open game in which the visitors have the quality to take control.
Coventry v Newcastle Bet Builder Tip
Here's our Coventry v Newcastle Bet Builder Tip for Monday's game:
- Newcastle - Win Market
- Joe Willock Over 1.5 - Shots
- Matt Grimes Over 0.5 - Shots
- Over 1.5 - Total Away Team Cards
Best odds of 6/1 at bet365 while publishing.
Newcastle's win has landed in four of Coventry's last five matches, which means Coventry have lost four of their previous five games against their opponent. The Sky Blues have also not beaten Newcastle this century, and Newcastle's six-game winning streak in this fixture gives them a clear head-to-head edge.
Coventry have scored only once in the Premier League this season outside the Forest win, and with Taiwo Awoniyi completing a three-game suspension and Haji Wright injured, their usual penalty and goalscoring options are limited.
Willock has cleared this line in four of four, with his shots across his last five games reading 2, 5, 2, 3 and 3. He leads Newcastle in shots per 90 this season at 3.68, which makes him the highest-volume shooter in the squad. He is also in good form, with two goals in his last three matches, and he should continue to arrive in the penalty area against a Coventry side that concedes plenty of chances.
Grimes has registered at least one shot in all but one game this season, with his shots across his last five matches reading 1, 1, 1, 1 and 0. That is a consistent return for a midfielder who regularly gets forward from deep.
Coventry are likely to have spells of pressure at home, particularly after their first win of the season, and Grimes is well placed to pick up a single attempt. This leg has landed in four of the last five matches involving Newcastle, who average 2.43 yellow cards per game in their seven domestic fixtures this season. It has also cleared in two of Coventry's three home games this season. A Monday night game under the lights in Coventry should be physical, and Newcastle are likely to pick up bookings in midfield as they look to disrupt the home side's rhythm.
Coventry v Newcastle Player Card Tip
Best Bet: Stephen Mfuni - To Be Shown A Card
Best Odds: 4/1 (10bet)
Stake: 0.75pt
Stephen Mfuni has committed one and two fouls in his two appearances this season, but his disciplinary record is trending in the wrong direction. He was booked against Aston Villa in the EFL game and again in his latest Under-21 game against Ireland, which means he has been booked twice in his last four outings for club and country.
He is likely to start in Coventry's back line and faces a difficult night against Newcastle's wide players. The pace of Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes will cause problems even if Anthony Elanga is not fit enough to start, and a defender who is forced to recover quickly is the type most likely to pick up a card.
