I got dog’s abuse after I sent myself to Coventry but now I’m set to collar club record SAYS
SAYS MARC McNULTY
Marc McNulty knows it will barely cause a ripple north of Hinckley.
But just one more goal for Coventry C City this season would see s the hitman create a little bit of club c history.
If the Scot achieves it he will have scored more in a campaign than any Sky Blues player for 25 years, jumping above City legend Dion Dublin and current Bournemouth ace Callum Wilson.
As a League Two striker, it might not generate too many headlines.
But for the Edinburgh- born frontman, who bagged a hat-trick in the 4- 0 win over Grimsby Town yesterday, his feeling of pride will be threefold.
Firstly, it will have justified his decision to join Coventry last summer when less turbulent clubs were interested in him.
Also, after getting dog’s abuse at first from the club’s vociferous support he’s now being hailed by their loyal band of fans.
And finally, McNulty’s goal haul will be further proof to himself that – if given the chance – he can perform at a higher level.
Yet despite all of that McNulty bel ieves people in Scotland probably won’t even notice.
He has been in England for almost five years, plying his trade at huge clubs like Sheffield United, Portsmouth and now Coventry.
At Livingston, he was regarded as one of the country’s most talented young scorers. He has fulfilled his potential – but because it hasn’t been done on our doorstep, he won’t get much credit.
Since leaving in 2013, he has started 95 games in the EFL and bagged 48 goals, a decent ratio by anyone’s standards.
Irrespective of Coventry’s continued off-field issues, he feels happy and settled at the Ricoh Arena. McNulty told MailSport: “I didn’t know about it at first but a few people have now mentioned the 25-year record.
“If I could achieve that at a massive club like this, it would be great. There are some great players on the list, most of whom were operating at a higher level than me. “But it would still be a feat. “With everything that has gone on behind the scenes at Coventry, it would be great to get at least fou r more goa l s this season.
“It has been a really good time for me. Before I signed, a lot of stuff was going through my mind because I knew the problems Coventry had.
“But the manager Mark Robins assured me the trouble was behind them. Other clubs were interested but when you see the size of Coventry, it was a no-brainer.
“This is a massive club and the stadium and facilities are excellent.
“I’ve been at Sheffield United and Portsmouth, which are also big clubs, and I get the same feeling here at Coventry.
“This is definitely on a par with both of those.”
City spent 34 years as a top-flight
team before being relegated to the Championship in 2001 when Gordon Strachan was boss.
But the decision to leave their Highfield Road home in 2005 – and rent out the Ricoh Arena – upset fans and sparked a slide that saw them end up in the fourth tier.
Some of the protests in recent times will live long in the memory and matches were halted last season due to either angry punters or objects being thrown on the pitch, shortly before the club’s undignified relegation.
The supporters and owners are still at loggerheads, which isn’t ideal for any player.
But thanks to his 21 goals so far this term, McNulty is now a firm favourite with the punters.
He said: “Thankfully, there have been no major protests this season. It’s not over but the fans have been great with us this term. “We had one guy run on the pitch at a home game when we were losing – but I think it was more to do with the fact that we were s***e that day.
“It’s disappointing what has happened in the last few years. The fanbase is there. But only when the owners and fans put a s i d e the i r differences will the club be able to realise their potential.
“It was difficult for me at the start . I wasn’t playing badly but I was snatching at chances. The longer I went without a goal, the worse it got and I was doing stupid things. But I always tried to stay confident because I know I can score goals.
“The manager has been brilliant. There were times when he could have dropped me but he didn’t.
“Once a couple of goals went in, I got on a run. And now the fans are great with me.
“Football’s mental that way. At the start of the season, they probably couldn’t have got me out of the club quick enough. The amount of abuse I got .. lucki ly I’m thickskinned and took it all on the chin. I was getting it stinking but rightly so because I wasn’t scoring.”
He is now, which makes you wonder why Scottish clubs aren’t taking note. McNulty is convinced he could do it in our top flight.
But since leaving Livi in 2013, he feels like a forgotten man in his homeland.
He refuses to rule out a return to Scotland though and insists if he can score for the likes of
Sheff ield United, Pompey and Coventry then he can cut it in the SPFL Premiership.
He said: “It does feel like people in Scotland forget about you down here. In League One or League Two it doesn’t matter how many goals you score,
“I don’t think you get noticed up the road. A lot of people in Scotland probably won’t even know my name.
“But if I was to score 15 or 20 goals in the Scottish Premiership then they would be saying Mark McNulty is unbelievable.
“Yet the standard here won’t be that much worse than up the road in Scotland.
“Guys like Louis Moult have gone from the lower leagues down here and scored goals up there.
“I’m an Edinburgh boy so maybe one day I’ll move back up.
“I can’t say for definite that I’d do well in the Premiership but I’d like to think I would.”
The amount of abuse I got .. luckily I’m thick skinned and took it all on the chin