Fergie saviour Robins a hero in his own right

MARK ROBINS felt winning silverware was the norm when he broke into Manchester United’s first team under Sir Alex Ferguson.

As a homegrown striker at Old Trafford, Robins lifted the FA Cup in 1990 aged 20.

His heroics en route included scoring against Nottingham Forest, a goal that is said to have saved Fergie from the sack.

The European Cup Winners’ Cup followed the next year to mark a memorable arrival into the big time.

Robins has subsequently found trophies a lot harder to come by, both as a player and a boss.

Yet the 50-year-old is developing a taste for it once more with Coventry after a second promotion in three years, as well as lifting the EFL Trophy.

The Sky Blues were confirmed as League One champions this week on a points-per-games basis after the season was cut short.

It capped a huge turnaround at the club since Robins returned in March 2017 for a second spell. Some fans are even dreaming of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2001.

Robins said: “In my breakthrough season I won the FA Cup. I thought this is the norm but I never got there again.

“So this is special, it is everything you do. When you win something it is great because you are not forced to win anything ever again.

“But since I walked in over three years ago the change around has been incredible. It has come from a really difficult place.

“I am lucky to work with some really good players and really good staff. The rapport between us and the supporters is phenomenal.

“We are possibly still a few steps away from the Premier League but it is part of being a football fan to think of it.”

City’s success has been achieved playing ‘away’ at St Andrew’s on a groundshare with Birmingham after falling out with the Ricoh Arena’s

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TIMELY FOR FERGIE: Robins scores that goal for United against Forest