Aston Villa have been given a clear indication of where they can hurt Coventry City ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup meeting.
Frank Lampard’s side were beaten 5-0 by Brighton on Sunday, extending a difficult start which has seen Coventry lose their opening four Premier League matches without scoring.
The scoreline does not tell the entire story. Coventry actually caused Brighton problems early on and forced goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen into two important saves.
But once the visitors broke through, the game exposed a vulnerability Unai Emery should be looking to exploit: space behind an increasingly aggressive Coventry side.
The Guardian’s report from Coventry’s 5-0 defeat showed how Brighton repeatedly punished the hosts once the contest became stretched.
Aston Villa can exploit space behind Coventry
Brighton’s second goal should interest Emery in particular.
Malick Yalcouyé was released behind the Coventry defence shortly after half-time and had the pace to escape before finishing past Carl Rushworth.
That moment came before Taiwo Awoniyi’s red card, meaning Villa cannot simply dismiss Coventry’s defensive problems as a consequence of playing with ten men.
Coventry want to play positively under Lampard.
There is merit to that approach, but it can leave substantial space when possession is lost or the first press is beaten.
Villa have players capable of attacking exactly those areas.
Alejandro Garnacho offers direct pace from wide positions, while Nicolas Jackson’s willingness to threaten space behind a defence is one of the qualities that differentiates him from Tammy Abraham.
Emery himself highlighted that distinction after Saturday’s Nottingham Forest defeat when explaining why replacing Jackson at half-time also forced him to introduce a winger.
Wednesday could therefore suit an Aston Villa attack prepared to play forward quickly rather than patiently allowing Coventry to reset.
Coventry still carry an attacking threat
Villa cannot approach the game as though Wednesday is already won.
The 5-0 scoreline was severe, but Coventry created opportunities before Brighton took control.
Jack Rudoni was denied twice by Verbruggen, whose early saves helped prevent Coventry taking the lead.
Lampard subsequently argued that his side had created some of the better chances during the first half.
That matters for Villa.
Emery’s side have already shown defensive vulnerability this season and will travel without Ian Maatsen, while Pau Torres is also expected to spend time on the sidelines.
Our latest Aston Villa injury tracker has the full availability picture ahead of the cup tie.
Coventry may still be waiting for their first Premier League goal, but giving them an early route into Wednesday’s game would be unnecessarily dangerous.
Discipline has hurt Coventry
There was also an element of self-destruction against Brighton.
Awoniyi was sent off for an elbow on Maxim De Cuyper before Bobby Thomas conceded a penalty.
Lampard even faced questions over continuing to attack after Coventry had been reduced to ten players.
That red card means Awoniyi will not be available against Villa.
We have already covered why Taiwo Awoniyi is suspended for Coventry against Aston Villa, while our latest Coventry City team news outlines Lampard’s other injury problems.
Villa should look to turn that disrupted Coventry side around.
Aston Villa must start quickly
The biggest warning from Sunday may actually come from Coventry’s good opening period.
If Villa start slowly, Lampard’s players are capable of creating enough pressure to make the night uncomfortable.
But Brighton demonstrated what happens once Coventry have to chase the game.
Their defensive structure became increasingly vulnerable, space appeared behind the back line and individual mistakes compounded the problem.
That gives Emery a straightforward objective:
survive Coventry’s early intensity, then attack the space they leave when the game opens up.
Villa can find Coventry City vs Aston Villa TV channel and kick-off information here, while our Coventry vs Aston Villa head-to-head guide covers their first competitive meeting in more than 25 years.
Wednesday should not be treated as straightforward after Villa’s own difficult domestic start.
But Brighton have just provided Emery with a useful blueprint.
