COVENTRY City are still searching for their first win of the season ahead of a tough trip to promotion contenders Norwich City.
With the summer transfer window now closed, Sky Blues fans may have been slightly disappointed with the club’s business overall, albeit having kept hold of their key players.
The Sky Blues completed their business more than a month before the window closed and lost key defender Dom Hyam to Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers last week.
Their opponents Norwich have recovered from a slow start to sit second in the table and were similarly quiet in the latter stages of the window.
Dean Smith’s side look to be in contention for promotion again this season having won the division in two of the last four seasons.
FORM
City remain bottom of the table after a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to Preston North End in midweek and are yet to taste victory after four matches.
Coventry have shipped six goals across their last two away games, at Millwall and Hull City respectively, and will need to tighten up to have any chance of securing a positive result in Norfolk.
Norwich failed to win any of their first three matches after relegation from the Premier League last term but have since won four games on the spin to climb up the table.
The Canaries are still yet to hit top gear and left it late to snatch the points at Birmingham City in midweek as Onel Hernandez netted an injury time winner.
TEAM NEWS
The Sky Blues continue to miss the influence of Callum O’Hare who is injured with Liam Kelly and Todd Kane also on the sidelines.
Norwich added just two permanent signings to their squad in the form of Chile international Marcelino Núñez and Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara.
And Norwich also added Isaac Hayden who joined on loan from Newcastle United and Aaron Ramsey who made the temporary switch from Aston Villa.
The Canaries are set to be without Hayden (knee), Sam McCallum (foot), Dimitris Giannoulis (ligament), Jakob Sörensen and Liam Gibbs (both ankle).
KEY PLAYERS
Coventry – Matty Godden – The striker has three goals in four league games this season, having netted twice away at Hull last weekend.
Godden has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and will need to be clinical at Carrow Road given Norwich have conceded just once in their last three matches.
Norwich – Josh Sargent – The United States international struggled to make his mark in the Premier League last season, scoring just twice, but has already eclipsed that tally with four league goals this term.
Sargent is in red hot form, with four goals in his last four games, and is particularly strong in the air which could cause problems for Coventry’s defence.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The two teams last met in February 2021 when the Sky Blues were beaten 2-0 at St Andrew’s with Teemu Pukki and Emiliano Buendia on target as Norwich stretched their lead at the top of the table.
Coventry last won at Carrow Road in February 2009 as City claimed a 2-1 win with Jordan Henderson netting the opener for the Sky Blues who have since failed to beat the Canaries in six meetings.
City have a much better overall head-to-head record against Norwich having won 54, drawn 35 and lost 35 games across 124 meetings.
PREDICTION
Norwich 2-1 Coventry – The Sky Blues will be desperate to claim their first win of the campaign but may have to wait a little longer to move off the foot of the table.
Coventry’s clash with Norwich takes place on Saturday, September 3 with kick-off at 3pm at Carrow Road.
