Coventry City are closing in on automatic promotion to the Premier League, but the job is not done yet. Frank Lampard will insist his players take nothing for granted.Derby County could yet end up in the top flight too. Can they triumph at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Good Friday, or will the hosts prove too strong?Draw at half-time and a Coventry City win at full time – 10/3 with Grand IvyBoth teams to score – 4/5 with BetfredBrandon Thomas-Asante to score any time – 31/20 with ToteCoventry City vs Derby County oddsFind the latest Coventry City vs Derby County betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.Coventry City vs Derby County predictionsThe business end of the Championship season is upon us.We are now into April and matchday 40 takes place on Good Friday. For the second tier’s 24 teams, the finish line is in sight.Needless to say, Coventry City would have gladly settled for being in this position had they been offered it back in the summer.As the domestic campaign resumes after the international break, Frank Lampard’s side are nine points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough and 11 above Ipswich Town in third. Both automatic promotion and the Championship title are within reach.Not that it has not been entirely smooth sailing for Coventry. They made a strong start to the season, losing only one of their first 18 matches to set the pace in top spot.Then came a wintertime wobble. From the start of December to the middle of February, the Sky Blues won just four of 13 games. Coventry’s advantage over the chasing pack was suddenly down to one point, and Middlesbrough had a game in hand on the league leaders. Things were not looking good.To Coventry’s credit, they have succeeded in turning things around. Seven of their last eight encounters have ended in victory. Lampard’s men are almost there.This has been a long time coming. The Sky Blues have not had a place at English football’s top table since 2000/01. Two failed play-off campaigns in recent years showed they were getting closer, even if that was scant consolation in the immediate aftermath of those painful near-misses.But Coventry still have work to do. A collapse is improbable but not impossible. Lampard must ensure his players stay focused until the deal is done.Derby County have promotion hopes of their own, albeit fainter than those of Coventry. The Rams head into Easter weekend three points outside the play-off places.That portion of the Championship table is as congested as ever, but the Rams are very much in with a shout of making the top six – and from there it is anyone’s guess as to who will ultimately join the top two in the top flight.Lampard, who took Derby to within one game of promotion in 2018/19, doubtless hopes his former side get over the line. On Friday night, though, it will be strictly business. Coventry are not in the mood or the position to do favours for anyone but themselves.Coventry City vs Derby County betting tipsChampionship leaders Coventry City face play-off hopefuls Derby County on Friday night.Coventry to finish strongCoventry City have rediscovered their form at just the right time. Given their goal difference is vastly superior to that of the teams around them, four wins from Coventry’s final seven matches would be enough to secure their return to the Premier League.We expect them to get one of those victories on Friday. Derby County are capable of giving Coventry something to think about, and there is a good chance they will get to half-time with the score level.But whereas Coventry rank ninth in the first-half home table, no one in the Championship has a better record after the break when playing in front of their own fans. Tip a draw at half-time and a Coventry City win at full time at 10/3 with Grand Ivy Derby to find netDerby County are in good form themselves, so Coventry City will not take anything for granted.John Eustace’s charges have won four of their last five games to lift themselves into play-off contention.Derby have also found the back of the net in five of their last six outings, while they have only drawn a blank twice since the middle of October.Even though we expect them to emerge victorious, Coventry may have to pick the ball out of their own net at some point on Friday. Go for both teams to score at 4/5 with Betfred Thomas-Asante good valueCoventry City might be top of the Championship, but Swansea City’s Zan Vipotnik leads the goalscoring charts heading into Easter.Haji Wright of the Sky Blues is hot on his heels, though, having scored 16 goals to Vipotnik’s 17.Do not rule out Brandon Thomas-Asante finishing as the division’s leading goal-getter either. Having made the net bulge 12 times up to now, he has ground to make up, but Thomas-Asante has looked sharp of late.After scoring twice in his last three appearances, Thomas-Asante looks like good value to get his name on the scoresheet against Derby County. Back Brandon Thomas-Asante to score any time at 31/20 with Tote Coventry City vs Derby County predicted lineupsCoventry City expected lineup: Rushworth; van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Grimes, Torp; Sakamoto, Eccles, Esse; Simms.Derby County expected lineup: O’Donnell; Ward, Sanderson, Clarke, Murkin; Travis, Ozoh; Brereton Diaz, Clark, Brewster; Morris. Where to watch Coventry City vs Derby CountyLocation: Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry, England.Date and time: Friday 3rd April, 8pm.How to watch: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.More Championship predictionsWe have plenty more Championship predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.About the authorGreg LeaGreg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootballCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. Gam Care. T&Cs apply. 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