Coventry vs Southampton: Will Sky Blues Benefit from New Manager Syndrome?

Coventry are 7/4 (William Hill) to beat Southampton on Tuesday and that looks a big price considering Iain Dowie is set to be appointed at the Ricoh Arena on Monday. The majority of bookmakers priced this match up assuming that Adrian Heath would still be caretaker manager but a new manager (and a talented one at that) gives us a whole new perspective on things. Sure enough, Dowie inherits a distinctly average squad for the rest of the season but when a new manager comes in, they often get an immediate and positive reaction from the players. Expect a blood and guts display on Tuesday against the Saints and plenty of goals as neither team are much good at keeping clean sheets. Over 2.5 goals is 10/11 with Sporting Odds and looks a price worth taking. There's a full programme of midweek Championship matches, including the relegation tussle between Barnsley (13/10 Blue Square) and Hull (11/5 Stan James). It's the Tigers who have shown the most improvement in recent weeks and a 5-2 drubbing at Southampton will mean morale at Oakwell is low. Also on Tuesday, Birmingham (11/10 Sporting Odds) face Sunderland (5/2 Paddy Power) who haven't lost a league match this year and I don't think that will change at St Andrews. The Draw is 9/4 with Sporting Odds if you think the two teams will cancel each other out.