Coventry City: Are the Championship leaders experiencing a malfunction or an explosion?

Coventry’s start kept the statisticians busy.

At various points, they have scored the most goals across Europe’s top five leagues, an unparalleled goal differential and the best goal-per-game ratio in the second tier in a century.

They were the first team in over 50 years to score 50 goals after 18 matches, and their current tally – 62 – remains the best in England’s top four divisions by a margin of nine goals.

Their lead over second-placed Middlesbrough may now be just three points, but the eight-point gap over the play-off places is reassuring as automatic promotion still looks within their reach.

The Opta supercomputer still thinks so, too.

Eight weeks ago, Coventry had a 90.5% predicted chance of becoming champions and a 96.8% chance of finishing in the top two.

Now these numbers have dropped to 62.4% and 85.3%, respectively. Big drop, but still very healthy.

But is there cause for concern in the short-term trend?

After scoring 50 goals and conceding just 18 in their first 18 matches, only 12 goals have been scored in their last 11 matches and allowed in.

In their last six away trips in the Championship, the Sky Blues have scored six goals, conceded 11 and have yet to keep a clean sheet. They got three points out of 18.

In addition, top scorer Brandon Thomas Asante, who is fit again, has yet to rediscover the form that saw him score 10 goals in 13 matches.

Hadj Wright’s goals against Leicester and Millwall in successive home games this month were also his first since October.

Although Coventry remain top scorers away from home, they also have a combined defense in the top half.