Robins is sure City won’t suffer a cup HANGOVER!
BOSS BACKS PLAYERS TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST ROCK-BOTTOM BOLTON
MARK Robins is determined his Coventry City side will not suffer an FA Cup hangover when they get back to League One action this weekend against the worst side in the division.
The Sky Blues entertain rockbottom Bolton Wanderers, against whom they dropped two big points in a hugely frustrating goalless draw back in August – a result that still rankles given that they played a team of teenagers who were being routinely thrashed by five goals at the time, coupled by feeling aggrieved at being denied goals by the referee.
City head into the game off the back of the disappointment of a particularly gruelling FA Cup replay that saw many play the full 120 minutes as the fourth round tie went to extra time and penalties against Birmingham City.
But Robins is adamant that his players will get straight back to winning ways to resume their push for automatic promotion.
“It won’t affect the lads,” he said, reflecting on mental and physical strain of Tuesday night’s St Andrew’s defeat.
“The players were outstanding and just need to recover right for the upcoming games.
“The FA Cup has been an extra for us. We wanted to go as far as we could but the way we have attacked the game gives me immense pride, and we need to do that for the last 17 games of our season.”
Asked if he has any concerns about fatigue ahead of the weekend, the City boss said: “It’s not a worry.
“You’d rather have not had extratime but then we’d rather not have had a replay.
“But we’ll taper everything down to recover for the weekend,” he added.
“We still have a few days to make sure we get over this quickly and ensure there’s no hangover from it.
“I don’t think there is or will be, and while the disappointment of going out of the Cup is palpable, you have got to move beyond it quickly and focus on the next game, which is Bolton.”
Meanwhile, Robins is “hopeful” that centre-half Michael Rose will be fit to return to his back three against the Trotters after sitting out the midweek thriller with injury.
Josh Pask filled in against Championship Blues to ensure City continued with their wing-backs system, and asked about Rose, the manager said: “He’s got a hamstring issue.
“He’s been feeling something for a little while and succumbed to it now, but I’m hopeful we can get everyone right and ready for Saturday, including Michael.”