Robins: We’re in good shape to bounce back

COVENTRY City manager Mark Robins says his players are in “good nick” ahead of their Yeovil Town clash in League Two today.

The Sky Blues will be looking to bounce back at Huish Park after last weekend’s home defeat to Newport County saw Robins’s men slip to fourth spot in the table.

Speaking to BBC C&W ahead of the trip to Somerset, Robins said: “We are pretty much in good nick, and trained well this week.

“We worked today again on the final touches to our planning and we are looking forward to getting back out on the pitch again.”

Yeovil have scored eight goals in their first three league games this season, although the defence have shipped 15, with eight coming all at once on the opening day at Luton Town.

Robins added: “They’ve scored a lot of goals but they’re going into the game off the back of a defeat to Forest Green Rovers, so it’s a little bit difficult to work them out, but we know they’ve got threats.

“It’s an away game for us and we’ve just come off the back of a defeat so it’s a chance for us to got and get three points on the road.”

Last week’s result was the Sky Blues’ first loss of the season in League Two but Robins says it remains to be seen whether he makes changes to the staring XI.

“We are blessed with some really good players, and those players are knocking on the door to get in the side,” said Robins.

“It remains to be seen whether we make changes but if they continue to work as they have been then the chances will come.”

Meanwhile, Robins says assistant manager Steve Taylor is in good spirits after suffering with a recent illness.

Robins’s second in command was taken ill last Friday afternoon following a training session at Ryton, and was admitted to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for emergency treatment following a bleed on the brain. Robins said: “He’s getting better. “He is at home and he obviously needs that period of time to make sure he recovers fully.

“I just hope he makes that speedy recovery and gets back in as quickly as possible.

“He’s in decent spirits and he will have a live stream of the game tomorrow so he’s all sorted really.”

The 47-year-old has followed Robins throughout his managerial career, from his assistant in his first managerial post at Rotherham to, more latterly, a role as his chief scout at Scunthorpe United.

Robins added: “He’s a great lad and was the best man at my wedding. “It was a big shock. “After training last week everything was OK and then he just felt unwell and it all shows you how precarious things can be.

“Fortunately our physiotherapist knew what had happened so he was on oxygen straight away and then he was taken to hospital.

“They looked after him at the hospital and he was in the best possible hands from then on, before being discharged on Sunday.”

Following the unfortunate events of last week, City have moved quickly to appoint Adi Viveash in Taylor’s temporary absence.

“He (Steve) was fully supportive of doing something while he is resting and so Adi Viveash has come in,” said Robins.

“I played with Adi at Walsall and then he went on to coach at a top level with Chelsea, spending nine years there winning various competitions.

“He’s thoughtful, studios, understands the game and will command respect from where he has been.

“He’s slotted in seamlessly so far and he is someone you can depend on just like Steve.”