Hurting Robins focus to next to come back Turns challenge stronger
‘WE CERTAINLY FEEL A BIT OF PAIN’ ADMITS BOSS – BUT NOW THERE’S WORK TO DO
MARK Robins has vowed to ensure that Coventry City will come back stronger next season after missing out on promotion back to the Premier League in a penalty shoot-out with Luton Town.
The Sky Blues boss admits that he and his players are feeling the “pain” after going agonisingly close to one of the biggest prizes in English football. City battled back from 1-0 down in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, with Gustavo Hamer equalising in the second half before the game went into extra-time and was decided by sudden death penalties – Coventry losing 6-5 when Fankaty Dabo lifted his spot-kick over the bar.
Put to him that it was a cruel way to lose, but that he could be proud of his player, Robins said: “Yes, I think so.
“But firstly, congratulations to Luton because when the game’s over you have to congratulate the winners. They have come out on top today, however tight the game may have been, and good luck to them moving forwards.
“For us, certainly the opposite of their joy is pain, and we certainly feel a bit of pain. But once that pain starts to dissipate in however long it takes to go, you have to reflect on what an unbelievable achievement it’s been just to be here today in a play-off final that was hotly contested. The division is very tough, as we all know, and unfortunately we couldn’t make that next step.
“And when that happens you know you’re not quite ready for it. Luton lost in the semi-finals last year and this year they have gone one step better. That’s the challenge for a lot of sides and for us, we have to look and see how we galvanise and recover from this. And it’s how we move forward from here.”
He added: “There’s plenty of work to be done this summer, that’s for sure, but that’s the aim. We have got to try to get back here as quickly as
possible or do even better. So whilst it’s painful at the minute, we have got to get to a stage where we can reflect on what a magnificent achievement it’s been. We have lost one in 20 games when you take today’s game into consideration, and that stat is amazing.
“So congratulations to the players, they have been fantastic and can be proud of themselves and each other. And I’m sure they are. The supporters have been fantastic again, as they have all season. The noise was incredible. We just couldn’t see it over the line.”
Meanwhile, Robins admits he “ran out of squad” as City fell at the final play-off hurdle at Wembley.
City simply didn’t get going in the first half, which Robins described as being as bad as his side have been,
but battled back with a brilliant Hamer goal before the star midfielder had to go off injured ten minutes from time after rolling his ankle.
The manager then gambled by throwing on Kasey Palmer, who had to go off again in extra-time, with City limited with alternative options after a season dogged by injuries, not least to Callum O’hare.
The Sky Blues had started with a box midfield but then switched to two strikers at the break, sending on Matty Godden to Jamie Allen.
“I thought the first half was a write-off as far as we were concerned, which was a little bit of a surprise,” admitted the City boss.
“But we gave the ball away too much and there was no point playing four midfield players because Vik couldn’t get a grip of the ball and was ploughing a lone furrow. It just didn’t work out and you have to credit Luton for that.
“And for us the change at halftime certainly made a difference and then we got the goal, we grew
into it and got the goal and I thought we were the team that looked the more likely.
“And then the game changed again when Gus got injured and came off. I tried to bring Kasey on to get that bit of flair in the last ten to 15 minutes and try to get a chance to create something or score himself and it wasn’t to be. I knew I would have to take him off in extra-time if we got there but I took that gamble.
“Josh Eccles went on and we got a bit more energy into the middle of the park but we really had to make some enforced changes with Gus and then Callum Doyle coming off.
“I was desperately trying to get Josh Wilson-esbrand on to try to give us a little bit of impetus down the left but it just didn’t work out that way in the game because of injuries. Callum just fatigued, cramping up everywhere, but the two changes was certainly a blow.
“But the players have given themselves absolutely everything and they should be proud of themselves and each other.”
Robins added: “We ran out of squad really. That was a tough afternoon.
When you look at what might have been there should never be any regrets. I don’t think we can other than we took it really, really close and just came up short from the penalty spot. And there’s certainly no disgrace in that and that should never be held against anyone because they have been magnificent this season.”