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EFL experts give Luton Town vs Coventry City score prediction amid ‘play-off final’ vengeance talk

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Coventry City travel to face Luton Town on Saturday lunchtime for a game which will have repercussions at the top and bottom of the Championship.

Luton have given themselves a fighting chance of survival with a well-timed run of form down at the bottom end of the second tier as they now take on Frank Lampard and his play-off contenders.

Position Team Played MP Won W Drawn D Lost L For GF Against GA Diff GD Points Pts
17 Stoke CityStoke City44 12 14 18 45 60 -15 50
18 PrestonPreston44 10 19 15 45 55 -10 49
19 Oxford UnitedOxford United44 12 13 19 44 62 -18 49
20 Hull CityHull City44 12 12 20 43 52 -9 48
21 DerbyDerby44 12 10 22 47 56 -9 46
22 LutonLuton44 12 10 22 41 64 -23 46
23 CardiffCardiff44 9 16 19 46 69 -23 43
24 PlymouthPlymouth44 10 13 21 48 85 -37 43

Luton struggled initially when Matt Bloomfield took charge after the departure of Rob Edwards but the Hatters enjoyed massive back-to-back victories over the recent Championship weekend and survival is now in sight.

Lampard and his Coventry side have enjoyed an extremely impressive rise in the last few months and they head into the final two games of the season sitting inside the top six spots, but with little margin for error. They also need a response after a damaging defeat to Plymouth Argyle over Easter.

Matt Bloomfield, Manager of Luton Town during the Sky Bet Championship match between Luton Town FC and Leeds United FC
Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images

Sam Parkin and Benjamin Bloom predict Luton against Coventry

Luton appear to have rediscovered a tough-to-beat mentality and grit to grind out a victory, with Coventry heading to Bedfordshire. They still have their fate in their own hands but know full well that they missed a big opportunity to put serious distance between themselves and their closest rivals.

Their end to the season has been made all the tougher for facing a side buoyed by consecutive results to put themselves in with a real chance of avoiding the drop. How much of a say will that have on the game?

Sam Parkin is an EFL pundit for the BBC and talkSPORT, as well as being a co-commentator for Sky Sports, and he spoke to Benjamin Bloom to provide his verdict. Bloom said: “It’s Luton versus Coventry. Are Luton going to get a third-straight win? They blooming well need to.

“This is a replay of the play-off final as well. Luton would very much like to knock Coventry out of the play-offs. Coventry would very much like to relegate Luton after what happened in that sudden death penalty shootout.”

He added: “I don’t think Coventry are going to win, Sam. But I haven’t got the balls to go all in on Luton doing it. 2-2.”

Parkin added: “I think this could be 2-1 and a home win, 2-1 and an away win, and I’ve already discussed this game elsewhere this morning.”

Bloom said: “Hedge your bets, go on.”

Parkin toyed with his answer: “2-1… Hatters.”

Bloom concluded: “So, that would be a triple win and take Luton to 49 points going into the final game.”

In the reverse fixture this season, the Hatters came out second best in a five-goal thriller at the CBS Arena, losing 3-2. That would suit Cov just fine, but Parkin’s prediction would leave plenty fearing the worst.

Sheffield United FC v Coventry City FC - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Where and how to watch Luton Town vs Coventry City

The Sky Blues have their destiny in their own hands but the same cannot be said for Luton ahead of a game which is a repeat of the 2023 play-off final. There is serious jeopardy with so much at stake for both.

Coventry make the trip to Kenilworth Road on Saturday, April 26 with kick-off at 12.30pm. Initially, Sky planned to cover the game on Sky Sports +, but there have been developments on that front since.

In light of the changes to both sides’ fortunes, with Coventry’s play-off push and Luton’s relegation fears, Sky will now broadcast the game on their main Sky Sports Football channel.

If Coventry win and other results go their way, the Sky Blues will secure a top-six finish this weekend. By contrast, defeat for Luton could all but relegate them if a number of teams above them collect the required points.