Coventry City news and views from CoventryLive as we look at what the Sky Blues need to do to go across the finish line and achieve something this season.
Coventry City earned themselves a significant play-off lifeline at the weekend, defeating title-chasing Leeds United in front of a league-record crowd at the CBS Arena.
To stop Daniel Farke’s side’s 15-game unbeaten streak, the Sky Blues had to work extremely hard to recreate the great big-game atmosphere – no easy achievement for Mark Robins’ men, who have repeatedly demonstrated that they can compete with any team in the division on their best day. They must now repeat the process on Tuesday against fourth-placed Southampton in their game in hand, with the goal of closing the gap to a point on their nearest play-off rivals Norwich ahead of the final five games.
Coventry have a minimum of six more fixtures, including a big day out at Wembley in a couple of weeks when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals. Here we look at five things the Sky Blues must do in the final stretch…
Stay focussed
Although there is building excitement about the club’s fourth trip to the national stadium in the previous seven years under Mark Robins, the manager must keep the players focused on the task at hand, which is to pick up league points to remain in contention for a top six finish.
It would be easy for the Sky Blues to become sidetracked by the idea of their high-profile trip to Wembley and lose sight of their Championship quest, which includes six major league games ahead of them. There will be plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the regular season, but City must keep their cool, take care of their own business, and see where it takes them.
Keep more clean sheets
City has only kept two clean sheets in their previous 16 Championship games, which is just unacceptable at a time when every point is crucial. Mark Robins understands that in order to keep up with Norwich, his team must gain something out of every game, and the first step is to keep the ball out of the other end.
Easter Monday’s 2-1 setback at home to Cardiff was a prime example of a squandered opportunity, with two own goals costing them three precious points.
Stay injury free
It may seem apparent, but City cannot afford any more casualties this season, having suffered more than their fair share of injuries throughout the campaign, particularly during the mid-term period when they barely had a healthy midfielder in the team. Robins already has a lean squad, and losing one of their key players at this point might be the difference between meeting their goals and falling short.
Matty Godden has missed the last two games and is expected to miss the next against Southampton, leaving the team with scant striker backup. That’s all quite manageable at a time when Ellis Simms and Haji Wright are in such good form,We can only hope that these two superstars continue to avoid injuries.
Get the best out of Callum O’Hare
The club’s top midfielder is certain to leave the Sky Blues on a free transfer in the summer, but City must make the most of him while he is still available. The 25-year-old got his first start in six games this weekend, helping the team defeat Leeds as part of a powerful and dynamic forward line.
In a nice return to form, O’Hare was a busy and dynamic danger, demonstrating that he still has much to give in the final stretch, particularly against Manchester United, where fellow number ten Kasey Palmer will be suspended. The fans still adore him, and he still loves the supporters, and both should make the most of their final weeks together when there’s a real opportunity to go out on a high.
Come up with an FA Cup game plan
When it comes to devising an effective game plan to beat the odds, few are better than Adi Viveash, who, along with Robins, engineered a victory over Premier League Wolves in the quarterfinals. Manchester United will be on another level, but City’s management team will research the opponents and devise a strategy to not only stop the Red Devils, but also exploit any flaws and cause issues on the day. It will come down to tactical intricacy and whether the Sky Blues can execute it perfectly while raising their levels and having the game of their lives against a top team.
