Promotion-chase pressure is all on Sunderland, says Coventry boss
Coventry City boss Mark Robins has deflected pressure away from his own team ahead of their meeting with Sunderland – suggesting the pressure is all on the Black Cats.
The Sky Blues currently sit second in League One ahead of their meeting with Phil Parkinson’s fellow promotion chasers, and Sunday’s fixture is being viewed by some as a potential automatic promotion decider.
But ahead of the televised clash, Robins has ramped up the mind games by insisting the pressure rests solely on Sunderland shoulders.
“At the start of the season nobody had us and nobody spoke about us as promotion contenders at any point up until just recently, and that’s fine,” said the Coventry boss, speaking to the club’s official website.
“We’re almost the underdogs in that scenario.
“Rotherham have been there last season, whereas Sunderland only three years ago were in the Premier League.
“It’s been a different journey for us, coming from League Two and back into this league and trying to do as well as we possibly can do, whilst selling players and trying to cultivate a style of play without having a stadium to play in.
“It’s a totally different, unique set of circumstances for us.
“We know what we are, what we want to do and we want to be successful, there’s no doubt about it.
“But I certainly think there’s more pressure on the other teams.
“The other night against Rotherham was one where I thought they started a little bit better.
“It took us a little bit of time to set into a rhythm but once we did that we did well.
“In the second half we set our stall out and the second half was a totally different game, and one we should have won, and we’re disappointed not to have won.”
Robins was also quick to praise former teammate Parkinson as the duo prepare to lock horns.
“I played with him at Reading and he was an all-action aggressive midfielder,” he added.
“He’s been a manager a long time, he’s had success wherever he’s been really.
“He’s got good resources and he’s made good use of them as well, and he’s got some good players at his disposal up there at Sunderland.”