Boss tells strikers how to tuck away chances
MARK Robins has been offering coaching advice to his Coventry City strikers on how to finish in a one-onone with the goalkeeper.
The Sky Blues boss has expressed his frustration after his players failed to convert when presented with clear cut chances in consecutive games.
First Conor Chaplin went clean through on goal against Sunderland but was denied a sensational winner against the promotion favourites when goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin got a hand to his shot, taking the sting out of the ball before a defender nipped in ahead of the striker to clear off the line.
And then Jonson Clarke-Harris pounced on a mix-up between two Portsmouth defenders on Tuesday night, driving forward but was thwarted by Pompey stopper Craig MacGillivray who made a block with his legs.
Former Manchester United and Norwich City striker Robins knows the position inside out and had some advice for his first choice front men.
“It’s about going through and making your mind up early,” he said. “You make contact on the ball and either take it early, which I felt Conor possibly could have done on Saturday, or take it round the goalkeeper.
“Whatever you do, make your mind up early and make a good contact with the ball, and if the keeper makes a really good save then fine, so be it.
“But more often than not you hit the back of the net. It’s a case of going through that process.”
Chaplin is expected to be restored to the starting line-up at Charlton Athletic this weekend after missing the midweek defeat to Pompey due to being ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement.
The 21-year-old is still looking for his first Sky Blues goal from open play, having scored his first from the spot against Oxford United last month. And Robins has total faith in the striker to start finding the back of the net on a regular basis for his new club.
“Listen, Conor will score plenty of goals this season,” he said, “He will score plenty!
“He’s just got to relax a little bit. And likewise with Jono.
“He broke onto his chance it really well but we have to take that chance, against top of the league who are there for a reason.”