Coventry City's new boss Mark Robins runs rule over first opponents Bradford City and insists one win builds momentum - The Coventry Observer

Coventry City's new boss Mark Robins runs rule over first opponents Bradford City and insists one win builds momentum

Coventry Editorial 10th Mar, 2017   0

NEW Coventry City manager Mark Robins has spoken of the qualities of his first opponents Bradford City since his return to the club, ahead of tomorrow’s big League One home game.

His first game at the Sky Blues since 2013 is at the Ricoh Arena tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) against Stuart McCall’s Bantams, who are fifth in the league, and have only lost two is the last 16 League games, with just five defeats all season.

Coventry City are bottom of League One 13 points adrift of safety having won only five games all season.

Robins estimates they may need eight wins from 11 to survive the drop, and has said the team needs to take one game at a time, while he told the Coventry Observer in an exclusive interview on Monday that whatever happens he is hoping for a “long association” with the club this time round.




Bradford are five points off the top two automatic promotion places, with 10 games to go.

Dangerous players for them include January signing and goalscorer Charlie Wyke, former Sky Blues winger Mark Marshall and French midfielder Romain Vincelot, whose departure from the Sky Blues in the summer under Tony Mowbray upset many fans.


Robins said today: “Bradford will be trying to get into an automatic position.

“They’ve been trying for a few years now. Stuart McCall’s come in and built on what they were doing.

“They’ve good experience and have added to that with Charlie Wyke.”

He also noted tomorrow’s opponents have ‘legs’ in midfield including with Nicky Law who was with him at Rotherham United, who Robins added may be out with injury.

“Vincelot did really well here last season and became a fans’ favourite alongside John Fleck. And with Joe Cole coming in it made it difficult for opponents.”

“They will be looking to turn us over,” he added.

Robins said there were no injuries apart from midfielder Andy Rose, who he said is out for the rest of the season with a torn medial knee ligament from an ugly clash with Nathan Clarke at Shrewsbury last week, which stopped play for 19 minutes due to Rose’s head injury which saw him stretchered off.

Robins added at today’s press conference at Ryton: “One win and momentum builds.”

He gave the example of Barcelona’s recent performances, while of course acknowledging the difference in the level of football.

The former Huddersfield and Scunthorpe boss and ex-Manchester United striker added: “We have to focus on just tomorrow and putting a performance in that moves things forward.. that there is a desire to do well.

“For young lads forging a career for themselves, a club like this is a great opportunity for them.

“We have to stick together and make sure we come out of it the other side. It’s about sticking together and having a go.

“Fans can play a massive part, if there is positivity around the stadium and fans don’t get on the players backs early on.”

More from today’s press conference here

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