Robins sees City fall just short in ‘land of the giants’
MARK Robins wasn’t too disappointed after his Coventry City side got off to a losing start as the Championship programme resumed following the World Cup break.
The Sky Blues dominated much of the second half against Reading who snatched a 1-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium from a set-piece goal described by the City manager as a case of the “land of the giants.”
“I think that performance on any other day could have got us three points, certainly a point,” said an upbeat Robins after the defeat.
“I thought it was harsh not to get anything from it. I thought we were playing really well. We came out in the second half and were on top and then their goal came against the run of play, and it was the first set play goal we have conceded all season.
“We were on the ascendancy and on the front foot, and it was only that corner that they managed to get it in the back of the net, but you are playing against the land of the giants. So ultimately you are going to give away the height advantage but they defended pretty well overall.
“So for that to happen and for us to lose the game off the back of it is really disappointing.”
City went closest to scoring themselves from their own set-piece when Michael Rose got his head to a Gus Hamer corner and flicked it onto the far post at the start of the second half.
“We hit the post and had one or two bits and pieces around the box but you could tell we hadn’t had a game and that sharpness in the final third, I think from both teams, was lacking,” he said.
“We were really good, moved the ball really well aside from too many good opportunities, and when we did get them we snatched, didn’t get the right connection or it dropped off a heel to their goalkeeper. We have hit the post from the set-play ourselves with Michael Rose and gone close a few times, so it’s that last little bit in the final third that we’re looking for to improve.
“For me the only disappointment is the substitutes we had and used today have all been out injured so haven’t done too much. You are trying to roll the dice a bit but you don’t know what you’re going to get. But like I say, a disappointing result but not too disappointing at all in all honesty with the performance. We moved the ball really well and there were some really good performances.”