PASS MASTERS!
City slickers are hailed by Cov Kid Abbott after their thrilling comeback against Blackpool
RARELY has an experienced manager turned pundit been so animated as Greg Abbott after watching his hometown club pull off a stunning comeback against Blackpool.
The former Carlisle United and Bradford City boss said the display by the Sky Blues gave him goose bumps.
He was so impressed that he rang Seasiders’ manager Simon Grayson to discuss the performance and how his team had been “passed to death” in the second
half. Coventry Kid Abbott, who started out at his boyhood club before going on to have a successful playing career at Bradford, was at St Andrew’s as part of TalkSport’s commentary team.
Speaking to the Coventry Telegraph, he said: “They were fantastic. I thought the honesty within the group was brilliant and the fans, after everything that has gone on, are a credit to the club.
“I remember Coventry City when I signed for them in 1980 as an apprentice and I did a year as a pro there, and they owned Highfield Road.
“And now they haven’t got a ground, what’s happened to the club? Credit to Birmingham City, by the way, for letting Coventry be there but it’s just not right for the Coventry fans to not once, but twice, have to travel outside of the city to see their team play.
“But having said that, the way Mark Robins has handled himself and the way those players represent the football club and those supporters – they are all top drawer.
“But the way they started the game on Saturday they were lucky not to be done two or three nil down. But they plugged away and clawed their way back into it with the goal and then the equaliser before half-time when it was maybe a little bit more luck than good judgement.
“But in the second half they controlled the ball, they played with honesty, with youth and with no fear. They kept getting forward, they leave gaps behind them and you can see where the 3-3 came from but do you know what, it’s what Coventry fans want to see. “Just people prepared to roll their sleeves up from the management down to the youngest player on the pitch, who I think was the left-back (Sam McCallum) who I thought was outstanding. “And do you know what, that’s why I was so ani
mated because I was so pleased to see that. He’s still only 19, by the way!”
He added: “I don’t call myself a fan any more because I can’t be because of all the clubs I have had, but I used to go and watch them home and away.
“My grandad used to work in the old West Stand at Highfield Road, so my allegiance is still with Coventry if I am honest, in terms of where my identity is and where I come from. Listen, Bradford has played a large part of my life. So has Carlisle, but to see Coventry produce that second half...
“I spoke to the Blackpool lads on Monday morning, to Simon (Grayson) and Dusty who I know really well because I worked with them at Bradford. And I said to them that they actually passed you to death, passed you off the park in that second half.”
The 3-2 comeback victory extended City’s unbeaten start to their League One campaign and lifted them up to second in the division, level on points with top of the league Wycombe Wanderers, and the 55-year-old believes both the Sky Blues and Blackpool will stay the distance this season.
“Both sides have got massive threats and will be, I hope, there or thereabouts at the end of the season,” he said.
“I went away buzzing and couldn’t stop talking about Coventry all the way home.
“I said to Mark (Robins) how nice it was to see. I loved it!”
Abbott also couldn’t help but be impressed by the fans, for whom he has a personal message.
“I’d like to pay a great compliment to what was almost 6,000 fans that went from Coventry to Birmingham to support their team,” he said.
“I’d like to say a personal ‘thank you’ to them because the club’s in safe hands because it has still got the supporters behind them.
“And I think Mark Robins is a top manager and a top guy, by the way. I’m close to Mark and I don’t mind praising people because I have always said the job is too difficult. I want it known that I really, really had goose bumps watching those lads on Saturday.
“So well done to Mark and all his staff and everyone connected with the club.”