Before the round – trends on England Championship (25/01/2022)

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The race for the promotion playoffs is close with seven teams battling it out for the top six. Second-place Bournemouth are separated by a mere nine points with eighth-place Nottingham Forest. There is a lot to play for in the Championship and teams could take a step toward promotion on Tuesday night.

Coventry City - Stoke City

Stoke City are hoping to reignite their promotion playoff bid. The Potters lost three of their last four league matches and are now six points off of sixth-place. Coventry City have fallen off the promotion playoff pace, but a home win against Stoke City could give them renewed hope of the top six.

Coventry City won just once in their last six games in the Championship. Seven points separate the Sky Blues at the top six. Last time out, Coventry City fell 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers, another one of the Championship’s top-six hopefuls.

Stoke City are a solid away team in the Championship. The Potters are on a two-match away win streak in the league and should go to Coventry with confidence. The last meeting between Coventry City and Stoke City was wild with five goals as the Sky Blues claimed a 3-2 win.

• Coventry City are on a run of 3 consecutive home defeats in their domestic league.
• In Stoke City's 5 most recent away all competitions matches, there have been under 2.5 goals scored.
• Coventry City have won just 1 of their last 7 home matches in Championship.
• Coventry City have won just 1 of their last 6 home matches against Stoke City in all competitions.
• Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.70

Luton Town - Bristol City

Luton Town and Bristol City are separated by two points in the middle of the Championship table. Both sides are aiming for wins to ignite some kind of second half of the season push up the table. Luton Town are unbeaten in four of their last five league games. Bristol City won two of their last six league games.

Luton Town have posted a respectable home record of 5W-4D-3L with 20 goals for and 15 against. Nathan Jones’ team is unbeaten in its last two home fixtures.

Bristol City have been dreadful on the road in 2021-22. Just 13 of 39 points have been taken by the Robins away from Ashton Gate. They are winless in six straight away games with five of those matches ending in defeat. Bristol City have conceded 28 times on the road.

• Luton Town have managed to defeat Bristol City in their last 5 home encounters in all competitions.
• Bristol City have been defeated at half time in their last 3 away all competitions matches.
• Luton Town's last 7 home clashes with Bristol City in all competitions have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
• Bristol City have allowed 2+ goals in their last 6 matches in Championship.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.93

Birmingham City - Peterborough United

Birmingham City are not one of the teams fighting for a promotion playoff place. Rather, the Blues are battling against relegation. On Tuesday night, Birmingham City host Peterborough in a six-point affair.  Peterborough are 22nd in the division and just three points away from Championship safety.

Manager Lee Bowyer watched Birmingham City win 2-1 at home to Barnsley the last time out. However, the Blues took a mere five points from the last 18 on offer. The Blues are seeking revenge to a 3-0 loss they suffered at the hands of Peterborough earlier this campaign.

Peterborough United are on a three-match losing streak. Just four points were taken from the last 18 points available to them in the league. The Posh have conceded the Championship’s second-most goals with 51.

• Birmingham City have achieved just 1 wins in their 8 most recent games in all competitions
• Peterborough have been defeated by 2+ goals in their last 3 matches in Championship
• Birmingham City have won only 1 of their last 7 Championship matches
• Peterborough have been defeated by 2+ goals in their last 3 matches in Championship
• Prediction: Birmingham City @ 1.85

Nottingham Forest - Barnsley

Nottingham Forest are four points off of sixth place and could take a massive step toward the promotion playoffs with a win over 24th-place Barnsley. No team in the Championship has scored fewer goals than Barnsley’s 17.

Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest picked up 12 points from the last 18 points available in the Championship. Confidence is high at the City Ground that the team can keep winning. Earlier this season, Forest came from a goal down at halftime to win 3-1 against Barnsley.

Barnsley are on a two-game losing streak in the Championship. They took just three points from the last 18 points on offer in the league. All three points came from draws. Barnsley have won the fewest matches in the Championship this season with a mere two.

• The team of Nottingham Forest have managed to win their last 3 games in all competitions.
• Barnsley have lost their last 3 away all competitions matches in a row.
• Nottingham Forest are undefeated in 17 of their last 20 league games.
• Barnsley have achieved just 1 wins of their last 17 away Championship games.
• Prediction: Nottingham Forest @ 1.80