Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Conway is working to get among goals again
TOMMY Conway has been doing his extras this week at the High Performance Centre – on the pitches and in the video room – to try to crack the code in front of goal, with head coach Liam Manning fully confident that the striker’s recent misses will prove of benefit in the long-term.
Conway has just one goal in nine appearances for the Robins, a spotkick against Middlesbrough, with his last in open play at Rotherham on October 4, but his performances under Manning having been marked to an extent by the opportunities that have been spurned.
The 21-year-old has experienced one-on-ones in each of the last three games, against Middlesbrough, at Southampton and then at home to Norwich City last Sunday, plus a first-time effort which was saved by Angus Gunn after a pass was played through to him by Mark Sykes, and a header at St Mary’s which was flashed over the crossbar.
Nahki Wells is making progress following his ankle injury, but Conway remains City’s starting striker and has been in each of Manning’s four games in charge, but the route to the Taunton-born forward finding his finesse in front of goal lies in good old fashioned hard work and preparation.
When asked about how to get the best out of Conway, boss Manning said: “Numerous bits and things, and there’s no secret but hard work, looking back at the bits that you do well, looking back at the bits that you don’t do well and then going out on the training pitch and trying to replicate it so that when you’re in those positions and situations again in the future, you’ve got confidence that you’ve worked on it and you know what you’re doing. I think that’s the biggest bit, if you step on the pitch and you’re not clear, I think it becomes more difficult.
“So managing emotions, and not beating yourself up, part of your job as a striker is to miss chances – hopefully not too many – but Tommy will score goals, it’s now about becoming more clinical; he’s been doing video, he’s been doing extra finishing with Hoggy (Chris Hogg, assistant head coach).
“That’s something (important) the age he’s at, it’s going through that sticky period, sticking by him and going, ‘Come on, come out the other side and go and convert’. He’s had three one-on-ones, some terrific opportunities, go and convert those chances into goals.”
Conway has found an ally in Wells, who has provided input into how his teammate and friend can get over the yips in the final third, with the Bermudian providing an alternative voice when analysing said clips back.
When the 33-year-old returns to action before the end of the month it will be interesting to see how Manning uses him given the theory that Conway works best when playing off another striker.
Speaking on Thursday, Andi Weimann added that the Scotland Under-21 international just needs to keep plugging away and retain some sense of perspective, because the real concern would be if the chances were not falling to him.
In tomorrow’s Women’s Super League games, Bristol City are away to Liverpool.