Victory would be 12th man’s FINEST HOUR!

THE power of the 12th man – it’s one of football’s most enduring convictions because, as with any concept worth its salt, there are countless examples of when and how it proved the crucial factor.

Sadly it’s become something of a cheapened cliche these days because every manager at every level of the game accepts that saluting the fans for their wonderful support is the No.1 item on their to-do list.

Even the likes of Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Pepe Guardiola have felt contractually obliged to go through the ritual although they obviously understand better than anyone that the wherewithal to recruit over-stuffed squads of international superstars is the true secret of their success.

For the likes of Mark Robins, however, it’s a heartfelt acknowledgement of a genuine asset, something he can count on week-in, week-out when the gaps in his shoestring recruitment are exposed.

There was no doubting his sincerity when he declares that his greatest achievement since returning to Coventry is not his two promotion campaigns, nor his Wembley trophy triumph, but rebuilding the rapport with supporters whose trust had been destroyed by the people running the show.

He reforged that connection despite the unforgivable machinations which saw the club exile itself from its home for two seasons. And he maintained it this year when factors beyond the boardroom’s control compelled City to play six of their first Championship fixtures on enemy soil, a handicap which left them nailed to the foot of the table seven points adrift of the relegation cut-off. At that stage only the most wildly optimistic Sky Blues fanatic would have contemplated a late push for the top six yet astonishingly they suffered just one defeat in their remaining 16 matches – that freakish 4-0 collapse against Stoke.

Hope turned into belief as the players and supporters fed off each other’s energy to produce a string of ‘I was there’ memories – who, for instance, will ever forget serenading Kyle Mcfadzean (above) on a big weekender in Blackpool or the magical moment goalkeeper Ben Wilson popped up with his 95thminute equaliser at Blackburn? Having confirmed their play-off place at Middlesbrough on the last day of the regular season, City were frustrated when Michael Carrick’s men held them to a 0-0 draw in the home leg of the semi-final. But that sense of written-in-thestars destiny was restored when a 2,000 contingent of the Sky Blue Army roared them to an odds-defying victory at the Riverside to secure Mark Robins his third winnertakes-all Wembley date since returning six years ago.

He knows all too well that his best-laid plans could be instantly undermined this afternoon by one mistake, one missed opportunity, one injury, one flash of indiscipline.

The only element on which he can feel completely confident is that those fans who have kept the faith are committed to the cause.

This time there will be 36,237 of them all ready to play his and her part in transforming the stadium’s West End into a wall of sound and a sea of sky blue... to add the final chapter to a story which would arguably eclipse even 1967 and 1987 as the club’s greatest achievement and their 12th man’s finest hour.

The only element on which he can feel completely confident is that those fans who have kept the faith are committed to the cause.