‘Don’t get me wrong, there are no panic stations, but something will have to change’
ROBINS ADMITS CITY NEED TO ALTER THEIR APPROACH AFTER A DEFLATING NOVEMBER
MARK Robins admits that “something needs to change” to get Coventry City’s season back on track in League One.
The Sky Blues went on a superb five game winning run in October but haven’t managed a single victory since in a deflating November.
A haul of 16 points from a possible 18 took City to the brink of the top six but one point from their last three since has seen the side slip to ninth in the table at a time when the manager had hoped to consolidate their place among the promotion chasing pack at the halfway stage of the season, rather than drifting towards mid-table.
He feels some of his young players are looking a bit tired and is considering tweaking things by introducing a bit more experience to the side.
Obvious contenders include Tony Andreu, Liam Kelly and Abu Ogogo.
“Yes, I know, and I’m looking at it and they are waiting to get their chances,” said the City boss, “but Kells hasn’t been able to stay fit for the season.
“But then the dynamic of the team changes, but something will have to change.
“Something will have to change because I have gone with a team that has got us five wins out of five.
“I changed bits and pieces for the Checkatrade and FA Cup to have a look at different things, give people game time and blood youngsters but the last two league games – the draw against Peterborough and the defeat at Fleetwood – we just need to start picking up a few more points.”
He added: “Don’t get me wrong, there are no panic stations.
“It’s just disappointing because when you get to a situation when you’re in sixth and then it changes and you just know that you have to wait and see how you come back.”
City’s on-going concern is the lack of goals, finding the net just four times in the last six games in all competitions.
The Sky Blues had two excellent chances to take the lead in the first half at Fleetwood on Tuesday night when Jordy Hiwula and Conor Chaplin were both denied by the keeper. Chaplin, Hiwula and Jonson Clarke-Harris all have four goals apiece with no-one pulling away as the stand out goal-getter so far this term. But Robins remains convinced his side will score goals in the division. “The biggest thing for me is the confidence and courage to keep passing and playing,” he said. “And if they keep doing that then the goals will come. “But they have got to go through this to learn. “It’s a learning thing, trying to do the same things but then trying to do something slightly different and it isn’t coming off. “But the players are thinking they can’t do that at the level. “You see Jonson Clarke-Harris is using his right foot a little bit more and we’re encouraging him to shoot more because he will score goals. “He’ll score more because he’s not just doing it on his left foot, but he’ll revert to type sometimes.
“But if he keeps doing what he’s doing he’ll get more chances and score more goals.
“Conor Chaplin is the same, he’s just got to relax into it.
“I think he’s looking tired. He’s a ball of energy and I don’t think he’s looking like that at the minute. Jordy Hiwula is the same.”
That being the case, is he looking to give Amadou Bakayoko a chance to impress with a run in the side?
“Umm, possibly, yes, but as I say, I don’t want to do anything that’s too radical because I also want to make sure that whatever I do wins games.
“We have to get that balance right and see what comes out of it.
“I thought Tony Andreu worked hard when he went on but he just passed it instead of shooting. He’s a player who can shoot and score – he’s one of the better at shooting in terms of technique in the team.”
He added: “It’s always disappointing when you lose but you can learn and Tuesday night has taught me a little bit about how we are and where we are, and what we have got to do to move it forward.”
The biggest thing for me is the confidence and courage to keep passing and playing. If they do that the goals will come. Mark Robins