BOSS Mark Robins hailed his side’s performance after Coventry City extended their unbeaten run with a 4-0 win over Grimsby Town ahead of the Easter weekend of crucial fixtures.
The Sky Blues’ biggest win so far this season last week saw them climb to sixth in the League Two table in the play-off zone, part thanks to a hat-trick by top-scorer Marc McNulty.
With eight games to go in the promotion push and with the League’s second-best form over the last six games, Robins today spoke of a “shift” in the camp since a disappointing three straight losses had threatened to derail the season.
The Sky Blues begin their Easter weekend tomorrow afternoon, as they travel to Rodney Parade to take on Newport County. Yeovil at home awaits on Monday.
Peter Vincenti – whose return to form despite playing with an injury that will need surgery is a real boost – opened the scoring against Grimsby for Coventry, who have won four and drawn two of their last six league games.
“I think everybody enjoyed that,” said Robins.
“We were clinical in front of goal, even if it did take us a while to get going.
“The finishing was magnificent from us. The set-pieces were good and we haven’t been good enough at that this season.
“Then to top it off, McNulty’s strike for the fourth was fantastic. It was a brilliant strike.
“The most pleasing goal for me was the second.
“Jonson Clarke-Harris did all the work and then gave it to him on a plate. That put the game to bed.”
McNulty’s hat-trick took him to 21 goals in all competitions this season.
Tom Bayliss impressed again in a central midfield berth alongside the dependable and influential skipper Michael Doyle.
Kyel Reid’s input as substitute as a left-sided attacking option was another bonus in a squad that still appears to offer some flexibility to the manager, despite a season of injuries.
An automatic promotion place is a real possibility once more with City three points off third placed Wycombe if the Sky Blues win their game in hand.
But there will be many warnings of complacency after an inconsistent season, and disappointments against some lowly teams.
Mark Robins said today: “There’s a shift within the camp, I think they’re definitely positive signs there and we’ve got to take it game by game and that is what we’re doing.
“That focus is there, and nobody has hidden the fact that we want to get promoted this season and whatever way we go about it doesn’t matter as long as we achieve the end goal.
“We have to enjoy things and enjoy training, games and the challenges and it’s what it’s all about and its brilliant and exciting for everyone.
“If you can achieve it then it’s something you’ve worked hard towards all season and we have to enjoy and embrace the final eight games of the season.”
Robins is expecting a difficult game tomorrow.
He said: “They’ve scored the most amount of set plays in the division, and not only that they’re a good footballing side and they’ve had a really good run in the FA Cup. They have some good players.
“I think a big miss for them is Joss Labadie, who is out with a knee cruciate ligament injury I believe, and he will be a big miss for them and is similar to us with Jodi and Tony having that injury, we know how it can affect you.
“However, they’ve got a good group of players and they’ve got players that can come in and do well.
“People forget that at this time last year they were bottom of the league and scrapping and looked like they were going down.
“But, Flynny came in and turned it round and now they’re mid-table and they’ve had a really good successful season.
“It will be nice to see Flynny and we will enjoy seeing them tomorrow and hopefully we can get the win.”
