Weary City ran out of steam – boss
SKY BLUES WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER YOUNGSTERS FOR THE RUN-IN
MARK Robins admitted his Coventry City side ‘ran out of steam’ as they kissed goodbye to any remaining faint hopes of making the Championship play-offs with defeat at home to Hull.
The Sky Blues, days after their dramatic FA Cup semi-final shoot-out defeat to Manchester United, had come from behind twice through Kasey Palmer and Bobby Thomas on Wednesday night following goals from Jaden Philogene and Fabio Carvalho.
But Tigers substitute Noah Ohio scored a 78thminute winner to maintain his side’s top-six push and leave the Sky Blues nine points adrift of the play-offs with three games to play.
City visit Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park tomorrow, then host title-chasing Ipwich Town on Tuesday before a final-day clash with QPR at the CBS Arena next Saturday.
Robins refused to criticise his Sky Blues side after a third straight league defeat and said their exploits at
Wembley had taken a toll on the squad.
“First and foremost they have done brilliantly to get through it with the energy that they have shown, from Sunday to now there was absolutely no chance of recovery,” Robins said.
“I thought everyone did really well, but the only downside was a lack of concentration around the goals that we conceded because they were really poor. That’s three on the bounce we have lost in the league and it’s a long time since that’s happened, so we have just spoken about that and spoken about the goals we conceded, that aren’t great.
“But there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it because of the energy levels, and you just knew it was coming. We are lacking in certain areas in terms of the depth, and we knew that and have known it for a long time, and this is where it comes home to roost.
“It’s a difficult one because to all intents and purposes we have done as well as we possibly could do tonight - scored two really good goals at home and you would expect that to be enough to win it, especially this season for us where we have been really good here.
“But when you run out of steam, you run out of steam, and the changes we had to make were too early in the game. We have another game coming up and it’s Saturday-tuesday-saturday and it’s just ridiculous really.
“If we are going to have to play youngsters as well, then that’s what we are going to have to do.”
We are lacking in certain areas in terms of the depth... and this is where it comes home to roost. Mark Robins