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UPBEAT SKY BLUES URGED TO BUILD ON CRUNCH MIDWEEK VICTORY BUT ROBINS WARNS THEY MUST PRODUCE ANOTHER...
MARK Robins insists there will be no let-up in Coventry City’s drive towards the Championship’s survival finishing line.
The Sky Blues took a huge step towards securing their second tier status with a three big points on Thursday night against chief relegation rivals Rotherham United, restoring their six-point cushion over the third-bottom Millers with five games to go.
A second-half goal from Leo Ostigard secured an outstanding victory at the New York Stadium, which Robins hailed as the club’s best away display of the season.
But the manager was keen to stress that the job’s not done yet with five big games still to play, starting with in-form Barnsley at St Andrew’s tomorrow (3.00).
“I have got to say that’s our best away performance of the season,” said Robins after the win at Rotherham.
“I have felt like it’s been coming for a while.
“The way that they have got themselves together over the last few days has been really good to see and really encouraging. And then to stand up against the physical threat that Rotherham have; you know they’re difficult to play against and ask you difficult questions.
“We knew it would be a two part game and with five substitutes it makes things different from normal because you can change half your team.
“So that’s what people are doing and that’s what [Millers manager] Paul Warne has done. He did it the other night to good effect against QPR team who were different to the one we faced on Good Friday.”
Coventry now have three home fixtures – Barnsley, Preston and Millwall
– and two away – Stoke City and Huddersfield Town – to complete the season.
And Robins says the Millers victory n was a perfect tonic ahead of facing a Barnsley side chasing a play-offs berth.
Robins’ men should have won by a greater margin after a string of firsthalf chances were thwarted by a combination of outstanding goalkeeping and wasteful shooting, but overall the players set new standards to secure what was only their third win on the road all season.
“It gives us a real boost going into Barnsley on Sunday,” said the manager.
“It gives us an away win and clean sheet away from home which we haven’t had since the second away
We have got to stand up and be counted again. We can’t rest on our laurels.
Mark Robins
game of the season at Barnsley, so it’s huge. It gives us that confidence and the level of performance was up there. So as long as we maintain that level we’ll be fine.”
Valerien Ismael’s Barnsley head into tomorrow’s game on the back of a 2-0 win at home to Middlesbrough last weekend.
The Reds have already racked up 10 away wins this season, the first time ever at this level that this has been achieved. And they’ve won the last six in a row, another club record.
“It’ll be hugely tough. They are different,” said Robins.
“Their press is different than anything else you face and if you can beat that first press then you have got an opportunity and chance.
“But we have got to stand up and be counted again. We can’t rest on our laurels. Thursday was a marker in the ground and we have to get on with it and recover well because Barnsley haven’t played, so they have had a rest this week.
“Going into this next game is a real plus having won on Thursday night.
“But the players look good and look to be in a really good place.”