CoventryLive’s coverage of the Coventry City match features Mark Robins’ analysis of the team’s 3-2 loss to Preston North End.
Some of Mark Robins’ Coventry City players displayed “nervousness” and “fear” as they were unable to end their league winning streak at Deepdale.
In their 22nd attempt to break their curse at Preston North End, the Sky Blues took an unlikely lead against the run of play when Haji Wright scored the first of two goals. However, they then gave up twice in the space of a few minutes in a miserable first half, trailing 2-1 at the half. First, Duane Holmes gave away a free kick in the City box, and then Alan Browne was given a penalty kick following a foul by Kyle McFadzean.
In the midst of a much better second half performance from City, more ferocious defending saw Wright score his second goal, setting up a wild finish in which the visitors attempted to rally for a late equalizer in excess of six minutes of added time.“There was definitely nervousness in the players and in the first half we were pretty poor,” conceded Robins, giving a calm and measured assessment of the 3-2 defeat.
“We couldn’t really get out and they had a lot of the ball, and their intent was clear. Ours wasn’t. We turned the ball over too many times and then took the lead, probably against the run of play. But having got that cushion and a starting point, then within two minutes we were 2-1 down and it seems ridiculous decisions – the second one was off-side. The first movement was off-side and then he (the referee) has given a penalty off the back of it, but two wrongs don’t make a right.
“Thankfully Fadz didn’t get sent off because he could easily have been shown a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity.”
“The second half, it was really just chalk and cheese,” he continued. It was a classic case of two halves, and we played with the same intention that our team has always played with. And aside from the goal we gave up, the second half performance was really strong, so we need to cling to that.
“The three goals we gave up were soft, very poor, and we need to get better at that. However, we have now ended our three-game losing streak and Haji has scored two goals, which is fantastic for him and good for his confidence.
“Ellis showed some really good signs, some good power and pace when he went on. We just made some poor decisions on the ball sometimes. We tried to play the ball through, which is good, but when it’s 20 yards they have more time to react to it and step across and close the space off when the ball was clearly on outside, and you can build the play from there. So that was the frustration.
“We got back to 3-2 and we were thinking, can we have that last little bit to get an equaliser. We threw the ball in at the end to the penalty area and the reactions weren’t there. We tried to bring the ball down instead of hitting it. You have to get a shot on target however you do it, and it just didn’t happen. But certainly, the second half is something we have got to hold onto.”
In conclusion, he said: “I just said to them, they have listened to The Last Post being played before the game. That’s real. Ultimately what we’re doing is playing sport and there shouldn’t be any fear what-so-ever. But I see some fear there.”
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