Sky Blues prove they can match very best
The Sky Blues earned a hard-fought Championship point against Swansea, having more than matched the visitors every step of the way on Tuesday night. ANDY TURNER assesses some of the big talking points.
■CONFIDENCE BOOST
MARK Robins urged his players to “show the real face of the team” after losing to Brentford at the weekend and they certainly started like a side full of belief and determination.
The Sky Blues got at Swansea from the first whistle and took a deserved lead inside 20 minutes. It was certainly the strongest start they have made to a game since stepping up to the Championship, and they were unfortunate to concede before the break.
And although the Swans came into the game more in the second half, the Sky Blues finished by far the stronger with a raft of late chances as Ryan Giles was denied by the keeper and a block on the line before Callum O’hare headed agonisingly wide at the far post.
Yes, the Sky Blues could have won and will be disappointed not to have converted the chances that did come their way.
But overall City displayed plenty of quality to ensure they were not overawed by another upwardly mobile Championship opponent with serious designs on the Premier League.
Mentally, a third successive defeat could have been disastrous but, instead, a decent point that could so easily have been a win sets them up nicely for another ‘home’ game against former manager Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers.
■BACK TO ONE STRIKER
Following on from the positive end to the Brentford defeat, Robins switched back to his tried and trusted box midfield and just one striker leading the line against Swansea – the outstanding Matty Godden.
And it worked to good effect with even Swans’ boss Steve Cooper pointing to the way Coventry do things “tactically different” and how his side struggled to get to grips with it at times.
The key to the formation’s success is the fluid forward line, aided by attacking wing-backs and the movement and bodies in and around the box that can often bamboozle defenders.
The system has served City well since first introduced at Colchester last season. And while it’s always good to have a Plan B and C, it’s clear that there’s still plenty of life left in it yet, particularly given the personnel currently available, which it clearly suits down to the ground.
■SHIPPERS BOUNCES BACK
Questions were asked about Jordan Shipley after he looked a little out of his depth against Bournemouth, and he wasn’t the only one, but the Cov Kid was back on it against the Swans when he sealed an impressive first-half contribution with a stunning goal.
Scoring his first since January, and first of the new season, the attacking midfielder put himself about well in the final third where he found pockets of space and did what he does best – getting firsttime shots off to test the keeper.
His movement and simple use of the ball was also good in a strong display from the lad who can take an enormous amount of confidence from his contribution.
■ROUND PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES
With so many injuries and a suspension to star midfielder Gus Hamer, it’s a case of all hands to the pump at City right now.
A number of players are being asked to do unfamiliar jobs within the team and are coming out with a great deal of credit, not least Sam Mccallum.
Having impressed when he went on at around the hour mark for Josh Pask at right wing-back at Brentford, the 20-year-old played his way into Tuesday night’s starting line-up.
And the Norwich City player, who is back at Coventry on a season-long loan, acquitted himself well again on an unfamiliar side of the pitch until he understandably tired towards the end, having hardly played this term.
Jamie Allen also deserves praise for the shift he put in.
An attacking midfielder by trade, the 25-year-old was deployed in a deeper role alongside Ben Sheaf – another player who is getting stronger with every game – against Swansea.