Blackburn Rovers must brace for scary Coventry City threat - Valerien Ismael will be sweating | OneFootball

Free-scoring Coventry City are at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday

The Championship returns from its second international break this weekend, and for Coventry City, they've been champing at the bit to get back on the pitch.

There hasn't been a more dominant start to the season than the one seen at Coventry so far, based on pure stats alone. The Sky Blues have scored a staggering 27 goals through their opening nine games, and just seven conceded means they have a +20 goal difference at the break, a difference only managed by the top three sides last season.

To put their goalscoring efforts into perspective, last season's Leeds United side, who netted 95 times en route to the title, only scored 15 through the opening nine games, and Fulham's record-breaking 106-goal haul in the 2021/22 campaign was at 19.

All roads lead to Frank Lampard's side's dominance continuing into the winter, and you don't want to be a side that gets in their way. Unfortunately, Blackburn Rovers are the team tasked with stopping them this weekend.

After three consecutive wins with an aggregate scoreline of 12-0 in the week leading up to the break, Valerien Ismael will be hoping that the week off has cooled the Sky Blues down, or else his side could be in for a tough afternoon at the CBS Arena.

Coventry City's attacking power could steamroll into Blackburn Rovers

Simply put, Coventry's attacking statistics across the opening nine games are off the charts.

According to Fotmob, the Sky Blues have generated nearly seven more expected goals than anyone else, over one more shot on target per game than anyone else, have created eight more big chances than anyone else (and missed two more than second-placed Wrexham) and have had 89 more touches in the opposition's box than anyone else in the division, too.

After a frustrating end to the 2024/25 campaign through a play-off heartbreak against Sunderland, Coventry have come out like a bunch of men possessed this season.

They've won games 4-0, 5-0, 5-3 and 7-1 already this term, and their 19 missed big chances indicate that this isn't a case of being incredibly clinical when the chances come. If even a third more of those chances were converted, the Sky Blues would have scored more than 30 already.

Coventry have already passed the halfway mark of the total number of goals that 13 teams scored last season, which, after just nine games, is incredible. Haji Wright being fully fit has helped, as the American leads the Championship with eight goals, but the likes of Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante have both stepped up in the early stages, too, bagging five each.

Jack Rudoni, who emerged as a star under Lampard last season, was absent during their 12-goal week before the international break, showing how much creative class Frank Lampard has in his arsenal, and it's something that should be striking fear into the hearts of Blackburn.

Valerien Ismael and Blackburn Rovers will be hoping for an off day from Coventry City in this weekend's clash

Blackburn have had a lot to feel aggrieved about already this season. If the weather hadn't stopped them from possibly picking up all three points at home against Ipswich Town, Rovers would have been on a run of three wins in four.

Now, they've won just one in five, and have to weather the storm of Coventry upon their return to league action.

When it comes to defending, Blackburn have been solid so far this season, being in the top 10 for fewest goals conceded and fewest xG conceded in the Championship.

However, a 3-0 loss the last time out on their travels against a Charlton Athletic side who haven't scored more than once in any other league game doesn't read well, and Coventry's forwards will be licking their lips at the chance to get back out there after a week's break and continue their exciting, free-scoring play.

Valerien Ismael will be hoping that his Blackburn side can stay competitive at the CBS Arena and keep the score down. And if they can catch Coventry on an off-day and keep the scoreline goalless for as long as possible, perhaps they may be able to sneak a win and hand the Sky Blues their first loss of the campaign.