THE JOY OF SIX FOR SKY BLUES
COVENTRY boss Mark Robins hailed his side’s desire as they kept their play-off bid in their own hands going into the final day with a sparkling win over Cheltenham.
Marc McNulty scored a superb hat-trick at Whaddon Road and the Sky Blues know a point at home to Morecambe next week will guarantee a top-seven finish.
“It was a good day because we wanted the three points and needed the three points,” Robins said.
“We have leapfrogged Lincoln and we are happy about that going into the game next week.
“After the energy they expended on Tuesday night (a 4-2 defeat to Lincoln), it was absolutely magnificent and for me, they showed the desire.
“Cheltenham are no mugs and they have taken points from top teams like Luton and Mansfield this season – but we have demolished them.
“Jordan Willis and Tom Davies were brilliant at the back.
“It gave everyone confidence and the finishing was outstanding.”
Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson admitted his summer rebuilding may need to be more extensive after the club’s heaviest home defeat since 1992 when they went down 7-0 to Redbridge Forest in non-league.
“I will have to look at everything now because we didn’t do enough to get anywhere near them,” Johnson said.
“They were a lot livelier than us and we didn’t look to have the power and the pace of them as the first half went on.
“In the second half, my players were playing for their pride, really, as individuals and when you put it onto them in a personal level, they all picked up a little bit.
“Getting a goal was good but their two strikes in the second half were fantastic and all their goals were wellworked.”
Cheltenham made a positive start, with Lee Burge blocking a shot from Mohamed Eisa in the ninth minute.
Coventry opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Tom Bayliss finished of a slick move after a quickly taken free-kick, with Jordan Shipley the supplier.
McNulty headed in his first from a Jack Grimmer cross in the 27th minute to make it 2-0.
A Maxime Biamou delivery was stepped over by McNulty, allowing Shipley to fire in the third in the 38th minute.
Cheltenham crumbled and McNulty lobbed Scott Flinders for the fourth in the 43rd minute.
Eisa’s pulled a goal back from the spot after the striker was fouled by Burge.
Biamou’s brilliant overhead kick from McNulty’s cross made put Coventry 5-1 up in the 74th minute and McNulty completed his treble with another fine finish four minutes later.