Robins: That’s a lot better
CITY BOSS HAILS HIS ‘OUTSTANDING’ PLAYERS BUT RUES MISSED CHANCES TO SEAL DESERVED VICTORY
MARK Robins says his squad must take a huge number of positives from Coventry City’s draw with Swansea after describing his players as “outstanding”.
The Sky Blues manager felt his side gave the Swans “a real scare” in the 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s and insists the level of performance will give the players a significant confidence boost after backto-back defeats to Bournemouth and Brentford.
A string of late chances on Tuesday night could have secured what would have been a deserved victory over their fifth-placed opponents who earned a point after Andre Ayew cancelled out a superb Jordan Shipley strike just before the break.
Robins picked out the performance of Matty Godden in particular, but was thrilled with the collective effort to put them in good heart from Saturday’s home fixture against Blackburn Rovers.
“I thought we were much better. Much, much better,” said Robins.
“I’m delighted with them and we’re disappointed that we haven’t gone on to win it because Callum [O’hare] has had a great chance at the end and we had Ryan Giles’ shots before that, a couple where the keeper made great saves.”
Robins admitted it was another test for the Sky Blues to deal with the quality of a top Championship side after last season’s promotion.
“We played against two outstanding teams in Bournemouth and Brentford and then another one on Tuesday night. Everything we did they’ve tried to put into practice what we’ve spoken about,” explained the Sky Blues boss. “They played with intensity and aggression, on the front foot, and they moved the ball pretty well.
“The speed was good, there was a scrappy spell of about 15 minutes in the second half, other than that I thought we were outstanding. “We gave them a real scare and they’re a good team, they’ve just finished in the play-offs, so it’s got to give us a lot of confidence.
“There was one move that was onetouch stuff all the way into the penalty area that led to Callum O’hare’s chance.
“The only disappointing thing is that we haven’t kept a clean sheet; we’ve conceded a scrappy, poor, goal.
“When you’ve got the quality that these teams possess, Andre Ayew doesn’t miss the target, it’s in the back of the net. But they’ve had one chance and they scored it.”
Robins saluted striker Godden who set up the Sky Blues opener for Shipley and worked tirelessly on his own up front.
“I’ve got to mention Matty Godden, what a performance that was from him. He didn’t really get a great deal in front of goal, but what a performance from him,” said Robins.
“I’m delighted with them, there’s things that you can work on, but you have to give the opponents credit as well, because they are quality opponents.
“For confidence, I think it does them the world of good.”
He added: “Matty was brilliant for the goal and in everything we did he was a part of it.
“We still didn’t make the runs in behind him and we spoke about that at half-time. Callum O’hare was in front of him and he’s just flicking it inside and there’s only one way it’s going, into space.
“It was great vision, great awareness - magnificent - and we have got to be able to pick up on that, so that’s the next little bit where we’ve got to learn to try and anticipate where things might land and not wait but it was outstanding centreforward play.”
We gave them a real scare and they’re a good team, they just finished in the playoffs, so it’s got to give us a lot of confidence.
Mark Robins