ZAIN: I’M READY TO FIGHT FOR MY PLACE
SKY BLUES SQUAD IS SO STRONG NOW, SAYS RECALLED GOALSCORING HERO
MATCH-WINNER Zain Westbrooke knows he faces a battle to keep his shirt - because the quality of his Coventry City team-mates keeps improving.
The midfielder notched his fourth goal of the season with the strike to seal a 1-0 win over Lincoln City after being recalled to the starting line-up.
Having been omitted from the previous fixture against Shrewsbury, the 23-year-old was delighted to repay the faith shown in him by boss Mark Robins but he knows he needs to prove his worth every single minute with such an intense fight for places.
“It’s difficult when you’re out, but there are so many good players in this team and last week we had five top class midfielders in there,” Westbrooke told the club website. “When I’m out of the team and then get a chance, I have to show why I need to be in the team and hopefully I did that.
“We all have to see it as a plus that we have so many good players to come in to take our spot and all that is going to do is push us on and make us play better like it did today.
“If you’re starting, you have to show why you deserve the shirt.”
Westbrooke pounced for the only goal against the Red Imps. The three points lifted the Sky Blues into fifth place in the League One table but just five separate second-placed Peterborough and 11th-placed Shrewsbury.
Robins described the display as one of the best of the season and Westbrooke agreed.
“It was a good performance,” said Westbrooke. “After last week [against Shrewsbury]
MARK Robins says the key to Coventry City continuing to make progress is to learn to play wth no fear.
The Sky Blues boss hailed last Saturday’s win against Lincoln City, courtesy of Zain Westbrooke’s firsthalf volley, as “up with the best”.
It was just the response he wanted after last-gasp defeat in the previous outing at Shrewsbury Town and a perfect confidence boost for the trip to League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers on Sunday.
Victory against Lincoln pushed the Sy Blues up to fifth place in the standings but Robins says they cannot ease off.
“Off the back of last week it was a brilliant, brilliant result and a clean sheet as well so I am delighted because it gives you things to sink your teeth into,” said Robins.
“But moving forward it’s about enjoyment, no fear and keeping the belief that they’re a really good set of players that understand what it is we are trying to do.”
But the Sky Blues chief stressed there are lessons that need to be learned. Lincoln had a 10-minute spell which posed plenty of problems early in the second half while City could not find the second goal to give themselves a cushion.
Being able to show a calmness in key moments is crucial, says Robins.
”We kept giving the ball to them and that’s what happens at this level. We allowed that to happen by not having a calm head,” said Robins. “All across the back we were dropping each other a little bit when we had no need.
“But we are young, so I am not being critical in the slightest, just things to build on and learn from to see that pressure out by doing the things that they know by moving the ball quicker and finding space.
“Once we took the pressure off we got a foothold back in the game. “A second goal would have been really nice to give us a bit of breathing space but I don’t think we were caused any major headaches. I think we caused them more problems which was nice because last week it was the other way.”
Coventry have no game on Boxing Day – they had been due to face Bury before the financially-stricken Shakers were expelled – and Robins will allow his players a rare chance to relax for the festivities before focusing on the trip to Adams Park on Sunday.
“I am going to give them Christmas off and then they’ll be back in to build up to the next game,” said Robins.
“They can have some time off with their families and I think that will stand them in good stead for the second half of the season.”
Amadou Bakayoko and Gervane Kastaneer were left out of the matchday squad against Lincoln but Robins revealed that was not down to injury.
“There’s a group of players there who are all fighting and that’s how it’s going to be – it’s survival of the fittest and who wants it the most,” the boss added. “Sometimes it will be tiredness that means I change it or injury but I am really pleased with today and I want us to get our teeth into now and move forward.”
I am going to give them Christmas off and then they’ll be back in to build up to the next game.
Mark Robins