Checkatrade Trophy final: Team news, predictions & odds

Coventry City v Oxford United, Checkatrade Trophy final (1430 BST, Sky Sports 3)

Nick Hext's suggestion  

Over 3.5 goals in Coventry v Oxford

Coventry and Oxford meet on Sunday afternoon in an all-Sky Bet League One final of the Checkatrade Trophy, kick-off is at 1430 BST live on Sky Sports 3. Oxford are the big favourites to claim the silverware and it's hard to disagree with the assessment of the bookies. Coventry sit 27 points behind eighth-placed Oxford at the bottom of the table and their Checkatrade Trophy run has provided the only cheer for fans this season. Back-to-back home wins have boosted the Sky Blues' morale ahead of this match but Oxford are also feeling good following a 5-1 victory over Bury in midweek. I expect there to be goals so bigger than 2/1 for over 3.5 total goals is the way to go as this has been a winner in two of Oxford's last three outings. 

Opta facts

This will be Coventry’s first appearance in an EFL Trophy final, while Oxford are set to play in their second after losing last year’s final to Barnsley. 

The U’s are the first side to reach consecutive finals in the competition since Carlisle (2010 & 2011). 

Oxford could also become the third team to lose consecutive finals in the competition after Stockport County (1992 & 1993) and Southend United (2004 & 2005). 

These sides have three wins apiece in their last six meetings against each other; including one win each in League One this season with both sides triumphing in home games (Coventry 2-1, Oxford 4-1). 

This will be Coventry’s third game at Wembley, having played their previous two nearly 30 years ago. They won the 1987 FA Cup final against Tottenham before losing the subsequent Charity Shield match against Everton. 

Oxford’s three previous games at Wembley Stadium have produced a total of 12 goals. They beat QPR 3-0 in the 1986 League Cup final, beat York 3-1 in the 2010 Conference Play-Off final, before losing last year’s EFL Trophy final 2-3 against Barnsley. 

Only Luton (19) have scored more goals in the EFL Trophy this season than Coventry (18). 

Marvin Johnson has scored in the last three rounds of this trophy for Oxford, netting the decisive goals in their quarter-final tie against Bradford and the semi-final win against Luton. 

Coventry have won two competitive games in a row for the first time since October. They haven’t won three in a row since September 2014.    

Team news

Coventry strikers Kwame Thomas and Marcus Tudgay are fit for Sunday's Checkatrade Trophy final against Oxford.

Veteran forward Tudgay has missed the last two games with an ankle injury while Thomas sat out Saturday's 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers.

On-loan Watford striker Michael Folivi is pushing to make the squad after scoring twice for the under-23 against Bolton on Monday.

Goalkeeper coach Steve Ogrizovic, who won the FA Cup with the Sky Blues in 1987 and made more than 500 appearances for the club between 1984 and 2000, will lead the side out at Wembley.

Oxford will be without on-loan forward Conor McAleny for their Wembley clash.

The Everton loanee bagged his second hat-trick in the month of March against Bury on Tuesday but is cup-tied for Michael Appleton's side having featured for the Toffees' Under-23s earlier in the competition.

Appleton is also sweating on the fitness of striker Chris Maguire who has missed their last two games with a groin injury.