Robins: We won right to play in battling first half

SKY Blues boss Mark Robins was very happy with his team’s second-half performance, but said it only came after they had first earned the right to play before the break.

“This division looks like you have to win the battle before you can play some football, and we talked about that at half-time,” he said.

“The second half was much better, as we’ve ended up with a lot of shots and opportunities plus two really well-worked goals with great finishes.

“We played some decent stuff at times despite the conditions, and created some good chances as well as the goals.

“Bear in mind that they were a team that was in the play-offs last season, and that they’ve strengthened again this season, and it’s a really good three points for us.

“Our focus now goes to Cambridge away on Saturday, who will be a different type of challenge.”

It was also something of a bittersweet evening for Robins who revealed that French play-maker Tony Andreu is out for the rest of the season.

However, he had better news about goal-scorer Duckens Nazon, who limped off soon after finding the net.

“Nazon stretched the defenders well for his goal, but the ball from Liam Kelly was absolutely outstanding,” City’s boss said.

“The run was good, the pass was great and the finish was superb.

“He’s only gone off with cramp. He’s a talented lad who has a lot of ability and now needs to work hard in training.

“We can use that ability in the team, but I’m still looking for more from him. If he can finish like that, it might just give him a kick in terms of his work-rate.

“His team-mates will have appreciated the goal, and now it’s about trying to help him help us, as without the ball we have to be better in the front area.”

Robins praised the contribution of Stuart Beavon, and was also excited by the potential of his substitutes bench.

“Beavon has worked his socks off, he was out on his feet when Devon Kelly-Evans came on,” he said.

“He contributed really well, got the movement going and linked up really well with Jodi Jones.

“We lost two players on Saturday, brought two in and had a really young bench, which is something to be really excited about.

“Peter Vincenti is a good player who is different to anything else in the division. He’s difficult to play against and is now finding his feet at the club.” COVENTRY City have been dealt a major blow after playmaker Tony Andreu has been ruled out for the season with a serious knee injury.

The 29-year-old summer signing from Norwich City went down injured against Port Vale on Saturday and has been diagnosed with a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for a minimum of nine months.

“Tony has been really unlucky, I’m afraid, and he’ll miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear which will need an operation,” revealed manager Mark Robins, speaking after the Sky Blues’ victory over Carlisle United at the Ricoh last night.

“It’s a horrendous blow for both him and us and we have just got to help him get the best treatment, the best surgery and best rehabilitation to get him ready for whenever he’s able to come back, but it looks like he will be out for the rest of the season.

Asked if the player knew the extent of the injury at the time he did it, Robins said: “I think it was in the back of everyone’s mind and the physio said straight away they thought it was that.

“It’s devastating news but he will bounce back from it and be stronger for it. It’s surgery that a lot of people have because it’s a fairly common injury nowadays.

“It will be nine to 12 months. Once he has his operation we will know the extent of the damage. The scan says tear but it may be a rupture, so we have to wait and see but, either way, it’s still nine months.

“You can’t come back sooner because it needs to graft on to the bone and make sure it’s right.

“But it’s a big, big blow for us.”