FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT
WATSON’S PATIENCE IN BATTLE FOR CITY BREAKTHROUGH
I have just got to keep knocking on the door with my performances. I have got to be patient Tennai Watson
IT looks as though Tennai Watson may have to wait a while longer for his first League One start for Coventry City.
The 22-year-old, who was drafted in on loan in August to provide back-up to first choice right-back Fankaty Dabo, has been patiently waiting for his chance.
The defender has joined until January from Championship Reading and played only a couple of minutes from the bench against Oxford and two EFL Trophy games for the Sky Blues.
But unless Dabo gets injured or forced to serve a suspension, which he’s extremely close to doing, or the manager picks him on merit, of course, then it looks like Watson is going to have to wait a while longer.
Dabo has racked up five bookings so far this season – four in the league and one in the EFL Cup – which used to signal a one match ban.
But due to a rule change, yellow cards in the league cup do not count in the league any more, so Dabo remains on four.
Watson might have felt a little unfortunate not to get his chance after Dabo’s double own goal display at Oxford United at the end of August, but Mark Robins kept faith with the former Chelsea youth star.
Asked if he felt unlucky not to be handed an opportunity on that occasion, he said: “No, I wouldn’t say unlucky. In football you have to earn your place and the respect of the manager and people you play with.
“I feel like it’s just a matter of training well and playing in games like the EFL Trophy and showing what I can do. After that it’s out of my hands and up to the manager.
“I have just got to keep knocking on the door with my performances whenever I get to play and see what happens.
“I have got to be patient.
“You’re always disappointed on a personal note but I will never let it get to me. It just pushes me harder to try to make a statement and prove that I want to be on that pitch.”
As for how the move was sold to him, whether he knew he was coming in as cover rather than a potential first pick, he revealed: “It was kind of sold in a way where I am here to fight for my place but I always knew in the back of my mind that, and the manager made it clear, that there’s a possibility that I’d be a back-up.
“But things change in football and you always get injuries and different games suit different players, so I always knew I’d be fighting for a place and regardless of whether you have a starting place or not, you still have to fight.”
In keeping with the rest of the peripheral players in the squad, Watson is not one to sulk.
“I’ve settled in perfectly,” he said, with a big smile on his face.
“It’s good to get training and playing
with the boys and getting to know the philosophy of the club.
“I was happy with my debut against Walsall and I got good feedback from it. There’s always things to improve on but it was great to be able to play in the Trophy games.”
Watson showed great composure by scoring in both penalty shoot outs against Walsall and Forest Green Rovers. “It’s always nice to score a penalty,” he said, “and it came as a little surprise to me not being in the first five named, but I thrive in those moments and love the pressure.”
His temporary move to City was helped by fellow defender Dom Hyam.
“I came up through the youth ranks with Dom at Reading, “he said.
“He was always the year above and a person who I could turn to. And he sort of guided me coming up through Reading so he’s a familiar face and it’s good to have that character about the place.
“He helped me settle in here, on and off the pitch.
“We have always kept in contact but I gave him a little shout before I came down.
“He’s the first person that came to mind when I knew Coventry were interested, so I just spoke to him.”
Asked for his early impressions of squad, he said: “Brilliant, to be fair. I knew how well things are going here but to see it first hand and see the philosophy with the gaffer and Adi’s coaching, everything is inspiring.
“It’s good to play a certain type of football and the group has a lot of talented players.
“It’s an exciting group and that’s something else to push me because when you are around good players it makes you want to play better.
“So I’m looking to getting my chance.”