Liam: We’ll not let our focus slip in race for promotion
LIAM O’Brien admits he can’t help looking at the league table – but the Coventry City goalkeeper knows the Sky Blues cannot allow their focus to slip in their quest for promotion.
O’Brien was back between the sticks as City won at Crewe Alexandra, making only his second league appearance in 2018.
He was called into action after Lee Burge picked up an illness.
O’Brien was beaten by Jordan Bowery’s equaliser for Crewe after an own goal had seen City take the lead – but Tom Bayliss’s winner just before halftime pushed Mark Robins’ side up to sixth place.
“We’re just taking each game as it comes now and we’re just looking to the next game and not any further and aim to get three points,” said O’Brien.
“You look at the league table but at the end of the day it’s how we play on a Saturday and as long as we keep picking up three points it will show come the end of the season.
“These are the runs and every year you see teams go on these runs and that’s what we want to do,” he added. O’Brien pulled off what Robins described as a “world-class save” to deny the hosts in the first half. “I found out earlier in the morning that I would be starting,” said O’Brien. “Burgey was struggling the day before so I didn’t really know the situation until the morning, but I was just grateful to get the chance. “We work quite a lot on reaction saves and things like that, and you don’t get many opportunities to have those sort of saves so when they come you want to be making them and thankfully for today they stayed out. “I tried my best to just keep it out and it ended up hitting me in the face, so I didn’t know too much about it. “It’s disappointing to concede, but at the end of the day we have come out with the win which is the main goal.” The stopper added: “Burge has done well this season and I haven’t really had much chance to get into the team so when I get my chance I need to take it. “I need to give the gaffer a headache, so it was good that I got a few
We’re just looking to the next game. You look at the league table but at the end of the day it’s how we play on a Saturday.
saves under my belt and I’ve done what I can do.
“We have the goalkeeper’s union, so I want to see Lee do well and not just because he’s a nice guy but because it helps the team but at the same time we’re trying to beat each other in whatever it may be because ultimately, we are fighting for the same spot.”
Coventry City midfielder Tom Bayliss has been named in a “Team of the Day” despite only playing half of the game against Crewe Alexandra.
The 18-year-old Sky Blues star scored what turned out to be the winner for Mark Robins’ side with a fine solo effort just before half-time, but failed to re-appear for the second half after reporting to the physio with a tight calf.
And rather than risk that developing into a more serious problem, Robins and his medical staff decided to substitute him as a precaution, replacing him with Liam Kelly for the remainder of the game.
But his 45 minute showing was enough to earn him a place in the Football League Paper’s Team of the Day, alongside Lincoln City’s central midfielder Lee Frecklington, who scored the Imps’ opening goal against Grimsby Town and played 81 minutes before being substituted.
Every other player selected for the team of standout performers played the full 90 minutes, with nine out of the select 11 getting on the scoresheet.
The exceptions were Yeovil goalkeeper Stuart Nelson and his Glovers team-mate Omar Sowumni – who is a striker but played as a centre-back in the formation.