Football News: EFL Cup Preview – Bristol City vs Coventry City
Ashton Gate will play host to a battle between two Championship sides on Tuesday night, as Bristol City and Coventry City fight for a place in the second round of the EFL Cup.
The Robins secured a point in their second-tier opener on Saturday, while the Sky Blues suffered a defeat on their respective Championship adventures.
Bristol City’s Playoff Ambitions
After nearly a decade of midtable finishes in the Championship, Bristol City kicked off their quest for a playoff spot with a draw at Hull City. Summer signing Fally Mayulu put the visitors ahead, but a late equalizer from Oscar Estupinan denied them all three points.
Despite the disappointment, Bristol City will be confident of progressing to the next round of the EFL Cup, with their home record from the 2023-24 season being second only to the top-six finishers.
Coventry City’s Challenging Start
Coventry, on the other hand, suffered a major reality check on the opening weekend, losing 1-0 at Stoke City. The Sky Blues, who have high hopes for promotion this season, were unable to breach the Potters’ goal, with Lewis Baker scoring the winner.
Moving from West Bromwich Albion to the Coventry Building Society Arena earlier this month, Brandon Thomas-Asante could be in line for his competitive debut on Tuesday, as he battles for a place in the forward line.
“This fixture is a repeat of last season’s EFL Cup clash, which saw Bristol City record a 4-1 victory at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.”
Team News
- Bristol City remain without the services of centre-back Rob Atkinson and Scotland international Ross McCrorie, while Yu Hirakawa is also sidelined with an ankle issue.
- Coventry will be without midfielder Ben Sheaf, who is set to return in September, but Tatsuhiro Sakamoto made his first competitive appearance since February on Saturday.
Prediction
Despite Bristol City’s disappointment at Hull, we envisage a close encounter at Ashton Gate, with Coventry’s attacking prowess ultimately proving the difference. Our prediction is a 2-1 win for the Sky Blues.
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