Star player missing for Accrington
MARK ROBINS IS ENJOYING THE CHARGE THROUGH LEAGUE ONE AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE BUT HE IS DETERMINED TO KEEP HIS SIDE’S FEET ON THE GROUND
COVENTRY City will be boosted by the news that Accrington Stanley will be missing one of their most influential players when they visit the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
With seventh place taking on sixth, both sides have the opportunity to underline their play-off credentials in the League One clash.
The Sky Blues and Stanley are level on points but Mark Robins’ men are top of the form table with five consecutive wins. And in a welcome boost which could give the hosts the edge, Stanley will be forced to face City without star player Sean McConville.
McConville is the visitors’ joint-top scorer this season with six goals but the winger is banned after picking up five yellow cards. COVENTRY City are on cloud nine at the moment – but Mark Robins insists he’s not allowing himself to get carried away as his side edge closer to promotion contention.
The Sky Blues are on a five-match winning run that has propelled them up the league table to seventh place – and level on points with the final playoff spot.
No side in League One can match City’s recent record which they have strung together with wins over Charlton Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Southend United, Bradford City and most recently Doncaster Rovers.
And with the City wagon showing no signs of stopping after promotion last season, Robins hailed his players but warned that he is not allowing any emotion to creep in.
“You know me, I don’t get excited at all about anything,” he said.
“In all honesty you have got to keep your feet on the ground. I am enjoying what I am seeing, the work-rate and the scrapping and some of the really good football that we’re playing and the chances that we’re taking.
“I think things bode well and the players are actually enjoying themselves. “I think they were stressed out a bit in the second half because we were slashing at one or two clearances, but the exciting thing for the supporters is that they can see there is a passion there and that they care.” City’s run of wins isn’t just impressive – it’s also historic. Not since 1998, under Gordon Strachan, have the club put five league victories together.
“Oggy has been telling me that he was on the bench the last time Coventry won five in a row. Magnus Hedman was in goal at the time in the Premier League. It doesn’t happen often does it, so we have got to enjoy it.” It’s the equal longest winning run of any third tier at any point this season after Peterborough United notched up the same tally of consecutive victories at the beginning of the campaign. The next challenge for Robins’ side is to go one better and make it six when Accrington Stanley visit the Ricoh Arena tomorrow. Asked if he’s surprised it’s taken a few months for his team to gel and put together a string of results like they have, he said:“No, because it’s tough and not many teams do it. The top teams do it and I think it’s a brilliant achievement. “But it’s another building block and we have to look at what’s next?” Stanley are one of the best away sides in the division this term having lost only twice in eight on their travels. Robins added: “It’s great, and we can park it now and concentrate on who we play next because it’s another tough game coming up and we have to show that we’re bang at it.”
The exciting thing for supporters is that they can see there is a passion there and that the players care.