Robins: I’m not thinking of Wembley
COVENTRY City manager Mark Robins is intent on securing three points at home to Bristol Rovers today before all attention turns to Wembley.
The Sky Blues boss claimed the first win of his second tenure on Tuesday night, after goals from Kyel Reid and Kwame Thomas handed City a 2-1 victory over Port Vale.
City remain rooted to the foot of the table, and relegation to League Two seems almost inevitable, but Robins insists his first priority is to collect another three points against promotion-chasing Rovers.
Speaking to BBC C&W, Robins said: “The only priority I have got is tomorrow and we need to focus on that. Clearly we need to get something from the game, and all three points if we can.
“Wembley is totally down the pecking order and underneath Bristol Rovers.
“I’m not even thinking about Wembley. I’ve got to get this game (against Rovers) played and won.”
According to the City boss, much of the preparation for the club’s first visit to Wembley in 30 years had been done before his return to the Ricoh.
He added: “A lot of that was done before I came here, in terms of the hotel and plans for the night before. But that all comes after tomorrow.”
Asked whether he would go with the same team that beat Vale in midweek, the manager replied: “You’ll have to wait and see tomorrow.
“The three points is what pleased me most. The performance was markedly better, we go forward with more purpose. The two goals were outstanding and we have to hope that gives everyone a lift in confidence.
“They need to deliver a similar performance to Tuesday night. I’m looking for that intrinsic stuff, that real desire to go and win a football match.
“It is a small step and we need to take another small step tomorrow.” Sports Writer COVENTRY City midfielder Callum Reilly says the upcoming trip to Wembley “shows the size and capability of the club”.
The Sky Blues play Oxford United in the Checkatrade Trophy final on April 2, and will be supported by more than 40,000 City fans at the national stadium.
Today’s League One clash with Bristol Rovers will be the final dress rehearsal for the cup final, and the visitors are expected to bring a large away following to the Ricoh Arena.
Speaking to BBC C&W, Reilly said: “It is impressive the amount of supporters Bristol are bringing tomorrow afternoon, but our fans have shown how committed they are.
“(Wembley) shows the size and the capability of the club is massive, and the fans have always been brilliant Gael Bigirimana since I’ve joined here, home and away.
“I’m sure they’ll turn up as they do tomorrow and be just as good as they have all season.”
The Sky Blues picked up a hardearned victory against Port Vale on Tuesday night, and will be hoping to carry that momentum into the game with Rovers today. Reilly added: “It was a better performance than in previous games and it was nice to come away with a win. It has been a rare feeling in recent times, but hopefully we can back it up on Saturday. “I think the formation suited us, it allowed one of the strikers to drop deep and the other to stretch the line. “The role of me and Bigi (Gael Bigirimana) was to drop deep when we weren’t in possession and then push forward with the ball, giving us a little more freedom.” Callum Reilly COVENTRY City twin Devon Kelly-Evans has resumed his loan spell with non-league neighbours Nuneaton Town.
The 20-year-old Sky Blues Academy graduate enjoyed an initial month with Boro who have now secured his services until the end of the season in a move that manager Tommy Wright sees as a nice little coup for the Vanarama National League North outfit.
Kelly-Evans, whose brother Dion is a regular first team squad member at City, is highly rated by the Boro boss who is keen to give the player a chance to play a bit further up the pitch in his extended spell.
“Devon is a player I rate so highly and someone I am so happy to have back at Nuneaton ,” said Wright, “even if I told him staying at Coventry was a good option.
“You only get one career and you want to play as high as you can. Devon knows that but he is
The fans have always been brilliant since I joined here, home and away.