COVENTRY v CREWE – Pick: 1 – 23 February 2013

Coventry look to go back-to-back over Railwaymen

League One/Two Tips

Football – England – League One

Saturday 23rd February 2013 – Kickoff:  1500hrs

Coventry City and Crewe meet again on Saturday afternoon at the Ricoh Arena, this time to do battle in League One following their Johnston’s Paint Trophy encounter in midweek.

Just when their cup-tie looked to be heading for a draw, Coventry scored two very late goals to clinch it and this will have had a devastating effect on the hosts who now have to pick themselves up and dust themselves off ready for their trip to the midlands this weekend.

In League One, Coventry City have lost just once in their last six matches which was a 0-1 home defeat to an on-fire Yeovil Town two weekends ago, but they’ve recorded victories over Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic, away at Sheffield United and Bury in recent weeks to keep up their hopes of claiming a play-off spot. Indeed, such is the close competitive nature of League One that Coventry City, in eighth place, are just eight points behind new league leaders Swindon Town.

Coventry’s home record stands at  5-5-6  22/19 which isn’t great but they do have a good opportunity to add to their wins tally with the visit of Crewe who have won just once in their last five matches on their travels.

Turning to Crewe then, and The Railwaymen currently sit in a mid-table position eleven points above the relegation zone and twelve points adrift of the play-off pack, so it’s probably safe to say they’d be happy to see out the remainder of the season in a similar position. Crewe can be tricky customers though and they’ve already beaten the likes of Doncaster Rovers away from home along with holding Sheffield United, Walsall, Leyton Orient and Notts County to just single points so far.

Crewe’s away record stands at  4-6-6  21/26 but they do have a hard job of keeping clean sheets on their travels as just two shut-outs from their last eighteen testifies, and Coventry have shown a greater willingness to score goals this season, particularly at home.

I think this match is dependent on who wants it more and you’d have to say the motive should definitely be with the Sky Blues today in order to close the gap on the top six; I’ll therefore back the hosts for the straight win this afternoon, Coventry City to win 2-1.

Pick:  Coventry City straight win @ 2.00 Ladbrokes