SKY BLUE’S THE LIMIT
Coventry are on the up after 20 years in the doldrums & Robins is dreaming of return to top flight
MARK ROBINS’ Coventry are daring to dream of a Premier League return – 20 years on since their stay in the top-flight ended.
The Sky Blues are on the rise after two decades in the doldrums.
Problems with ownership, mass protests, financial woes, relocating to play their home games at Northampton and even groundsharing at Birmingham’s St Andrew’s has been the tip of the iceberg for a side from the 10th largest city in England.
But Robins’ young team have kicked on this season with their return to the Ricoh Arena – boasting a 100 percent home record.
The move back, following a row with owners Wasps, has paid instant dividends.
Robins’ players have been roared on by noisy fans, thrilled at the 1987 FA Cup winners’ prospects, after being starved of a glimpse at the top-flight that was their home from 1967-2001.
Coventry were briefly top of the Championship last week while they were demolishing Peterborough, only for West Brom’s late win over QPR to deny them staying there.
Ahead of tonight’s trip to Luton, Robins said: “The fans support the team brilliantly and both myself and the staff. That plays a huge part in what you do and the bond that’s ever growing between everyone at the club.
“To hear them singing ‘We’re top of the league,’ for 20 minutes or so was great. And hopefully they’ve taken a picture of it and that’s fantastic.” Jimmy Hill’s contribution to Coventry was so great there is a statue of him outside the Ricoh (below).
His famous reign as manager guided them from the old Division Three into the top-flight while modernising the club in the 1960s during a revolution at their old Highfield Road home.
Coventry plan to remember him on Saturday in their ‘Jimmy Hill Day’ for Fulham’s visit and some fans are already now making comparisons to the team’s present resurgence.
The summer addition of experienced goalkeeper Simon
Moore has improved the defence, where they play a back three with wing-backs.
Kyle McFadzean is the leader and the loan of Jake ClarkeSalter from Chelsea has proved a shrewd bit of business with Dominic Hyam excelling as part of the trio.
In central midfield, Gustavo Hamer is widely considered a class above while former Aston Villa academy graduate Callum O’Hare is as nimble as his sister Alliyah, who is a world champion Irish dancer.
Viktor Gyokeres is the lead man in a settled team.
The Swedish striker has taken his game to new heights with seven goals after a permanent summer transfer following his loan last term from Brighton.
Coventry appear content going under the radar and their fans now just want the ride to roll on as long as possible, even if the pundits are sceptical that they can last the pace after swapping a relegation fight for a potential promotion push.
Sky Sports’ Keith Andrews said: “There’s such a feel-good factor at that club and Mark Robins has done a remarkable job. But I’d be amazed if they sustain it with the size of the squad.”