Diamond worth their weight in gold for Robins

COVENTRY City came away with the bragging rights and a big three points from their Midlands derby clash with Wayne Rooney’s Rams.

Here are some of the big talking points and big match analysis from the cracking 1-0 victory.

Huge three points

This was always one of those fixtures that make City fans nervous ahead of kick-off. Up against a team around them and on their own turf, you had to fancy the Sky Blues. But how many times have we seen them come unstuck in those so-called ‘must win’ games?

As I said last week, it wasn’t a must win game but it was a huge fixture in terms of the outcome and the ramifications had they lost.

Fortunately, however, they came out on top and the psychological boost to confidence for all of a Sky Blue persuasion is immeasurable.

Now ten points off second from bottom Sheffield Wednesday and six off third from bottom Rotherham, albeit the Millers have three games in hand, City have are also level on 38 points with Derby and Huddersfield, and just two away from 17th placed Forest.

And given the reasonably favourable run-in against teams around and below them, you have to fancy Mark Robins’ men to secure their Championship status.

Diamond geezers

Matty James and Liam Kelly were squeezed into the same starting line-up for only the second time since both have been fit and available.

It came at the expense of a striker, Tyler Walker, as Robins went with just one up top, opting for the physical presence and work-rate of Max Biamou to lead the line.

It was a change that had to happen and ensured the Sky Blues had all four of their best midfield players on the pitch at the same time.

Deployed in a midfield diamond, it saw the skipper do a superb job sitting at the base, mopping up the loose balls, winning second balls and helping defend in the box, while James and star man Gus Hamer exerted their quality a little further forward.

And that left Callum O’hare to cause all manner of problems at the tip where he linked up nicely with those around him.

There will come a time when Robins will want to go back to two up top, particularly when Matty

Godden is fully fit. But, for the time being, he needs his best players on the pitch and that means playing all four midfielders.

Crucial clean sheet

Leo Ostigard was restored straight back to the starting line-up after serving his one match ban, returning in a straight swap for Michael Rose on the right of the back three.

His incredible aerial ability was no doubt a consideration in the manager’s decision against a Rams side that have one of the highest goal rates from set plays in the division. The Sky Blues have been vulnerable from set-pieces in recent weeks, and plenty of work on the training pitch in the week clearly paid off as City kept out Derby’s biggest goal threat, centre-back Matthew Clarke.

The visitors enjoyed far too many corners and free-kicks for comfort, ensuring City’s defensive resolve was tested to the max. And to come through that and keep a clean sheet will renew what appeared to be flagging confidence at the back. Immense Max

Max Biamou is the first to admit he needs to score more goals but his all-round contribution means that his value to the team is so much more than that.

He’s acted as a decent foil for a second striker, providing assists for Tyler Walker, and he took his own personal tally to five on Saturday, which should give him plenty of confidence to bump up his numbers in the remaining 11 games.

But he offers so much as a centreforward, starting with his impressive work-rate, chasing, pressing and defending from the front as well as some excellent hold up play and providing a physical presence in both boxes.

Godden back in the mix

He may not have got on the pitch but the fact that Matty Godden was back in the mix was a huge boost for all concerned. The talismanic striker has been out for far too long but is now expected to be eased back into the side from the bench.

Saturday’s game didn’t allow for that process to begin but his mere presence in the squad will have been felt by his team-mates.

He’ll have another week of training and the possibility of a run-out in the Under-23s today to continue to build his fitness levels ahead of Saturday’s trip to Rotherham.