Match Preview Derby County vs Coventry City Championship Game Week 2

Explore Coral’s game week 2 detailed match preview for Derby County vs Coventry City in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and line-ups for the 12:30 BST kick-off from Pride Park Stadium on Saturday, 16 August 2025.

Fixture: Derby County vs Coventry City

Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025

Kick-off: 12:30 BST

Venue: Pride Park Stadium

Derby County, coming off a disappointing loss against Stoke City, will be eager to bounce back at home. Their recent form suggests a need for a more solid defensive approach, but they have the firepower up front to challenge Coventry. On the other hand, Coventry City with their draw against Hull City, showed resilience but perhaps lacking the cutting edge to secure wins. This match could see Derby pushing hard for a victory, while Coventry will aim to exploit any defensive lapses.

The game might be closely contested, with Derby likely to dominate possession and create more scoring opportunities. However, Coventry's disciplined approach could keep them in the game, potentially leading to a late goal. Given Derby's need for a win and Coventry's recent form, expect a competitive match with Derby edging it.

Match Prediction: Derby County 2-1 Coventry City

Derby County's recent loss to Stoke City highlighted some defensive frailties that they'll need to address. Despite the defeat, they showed they can create chances, which bodes well for their upcoming match against Coventry. If they can tighten up at the back, Derby should be able to leverage their home advantage and put pressure on Coventry's defence.

Recent Championship Results:

• Loss: 1-3 vs Stoke City (A)

Coventry City's draw against Hull City showed a team that's hard to beat but perhaps struggling to convert draws into wins. Against Derby, they'll need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to come away with a positive result.

Recent Championship Results:

• Draw: 0-0 vs Hull City (H)

Historically, Derby County have had the upper hand in recent encounters with Coventry City, winning two of the last five meetings. The most recent clash saw Derby triumph 2-0, suggesting they might have a psychological edge going into this match.

Recent Results

• Derby County 2-0 Coventry City (11 Mar 2025)

• Coventry City 1-2 Derby County (06 Nov 2024)

• Derby County 1-1 Coventry City (19 Mar 2022)

• Coventry City 1-0 Derby County (08 Jan 2022)

• Coventry City 1-1 Derby County (23 Oct 2021)

• Curtis Nelson (Torn knee ligaments)

• Lars-Jørgen Salvesen (Cruciate ligament tear)

• Kane Wilson (Knee surgery)

• Haji Wright (Achilles tendon problems)

• Victor Torp (Ankle injury)

• Oliver Dovin (Cruciate ligament tear) 

• Bobby Thomas (Calf strain)

• Zetterström, Nyambe, Batth, Clarke, Forsyth, Jackson, Goudmijn, Thompson, Blackett-Taylor, Morris, Adams

With a strong midfield presence from Kenzo Goudmijn and Liam Thompson, Derby will look to control the game’s tempo and feed forwards Carlton Morris and Ebou Adams. The backline, led by Danny Batth and Matt Clarke, will need to be more organised to prevent the kind of lapses seen against Stoke.

• Rushworth, van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva, Torp, Grimes, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark, Thomas-Asante

Coventry’s predicted lineup focuses on maintaining a solid defensive structure, with Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching at the heart of the defense. Their midfield, anchored by Matt Grimes and Victor Torp, will be crucial in breaking up Derby’s play and launching quick counter-attacks through Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark.

• Carlton Morris vs Bobby Thomas: Morris's ability to hold up play and bring others into the game will be tested against Thomas's defensive solidity.

• Tatsuhiro Sakamoto vs Liam Thompson: Sakamoto's creativity and flair will be crucial for Coventry, but Thompson's tenacity in midfield could disrupt his rhythm.

• Jacob Widell Zetterström (Derby County): The goalkeeper will be key in ensuring Derby’s defence remains solid after their recent lapse.

• Matt Grimes (Coventry City): His role in breaking up play and distributing the ball will be vital for Coventry's chances of getting a result.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.