Duckens is in danger of getting axed
MARK Robins will be looking for a reaction from his players after what he described as an “embarrassing” and “horrendous” showing at Morecambe last weekend.
The Sky Blues are back on home soil for the first of two back-to-back games at the Ricoh Arena when they will be looking to improve on their record at the stadium where they have only managed to win half of their ten games to date.
City have experienced frustrating form in their own back yard as many League Two sides play a largely defensive game with many men behind the ball, losing three times and drawing twice in the Arena so far this season.
The onus will, once again, be on how City will break down Cheltenham Town.
Robins may well be tempted to make changes to his side from the miserable 2-0 defeat at the Globe Arena and the big questions is whether he will leave out leading scorer Duckens Nazon after his disappointing display.
The manager was unhappy with the Wolves loan striker’s work-rate against the Shrimps and hauled off the 23-year-old at half-time.
He also withdrew young midfielder Jordan Shipley at the break, replacing the pair with Devon Kelly-Evans and Peter Vincenti, but whether he starts the substitutes this week remains to be seen.
Certainly there appears a case for striker Jordan Ponticelli (assuming he’s fit) to return to the squad, if not the starting line-up after being left out altogether at Morecambe.
City will again be without Liam Kelly – out for six to eight weeks with a heel problem – so Ben Stevenson should retain his place in midfield alongside skipper Michael Doyle.
The defence came in for a rare bit of criticism last week a but it’s difficult to see Robins making a change at the back given how well they have operated on the whole this season.
The most likely changes will be to his forward line with Stuart Beavon possibly due a recall in place of maybe Max Biamou.
The fact that Marc McNulty scored three in three prior to last week should be enough for him to retain his place but as for the remaining berths in the front four, they appear to be up for grabs.