Robins celebrates Sky Blues’ win despite soft goal conceded

Posted Sunday, February 23, 2020 by PA

Mark Robins was delighted to see his Coventry side weather the tough conditions at Rochdale and maintain their promotion push with a 2-1 victory.

Michael Rose headed the Sky Blues ahead on four minutes when he met Liam Walsh’s delivery and Matty Godden added a second in the 71st minute.

The Sky Blues boss was less than happy with the manner in which his side conceded within 60 seconds of going 2-0 up midway through the second half, Aaron Wilbraham capitalising for Dale.

Robins suggested the soft goal could provide the ‘kick up the backside’ his team need but insisted he would not dwell on the negatives after a ‘brilliant’ three points.

“The boys got the job done, even though I didn’t think it was a great performance,” he said.

“Conditions were tough and the level of water beneath the pitch was quite high so the ground underneath it moves. So it was tough but I thought we handled that well in the first half and got our noses in front, deservedly, from a great ball in and a great header.

“That settled any nerves, but I don’t think we really got to grips with Rochdale enough and that takes bravery and courage, which I think they showed plenty of.

“Rochdale are in a situation where they have to throw caution to the wind at times and we weren’t good enough at getting on the ball.

“We got the second goal which was a great move but then thought we’d won it and they go down the other end and score straight away.

“It was a disgrace of a goal, a joke, and we can’t afford to do that. I hope that’s a kick up the backside for us and we can kick on from there because that was poor.”

Dale grew into the game after Rose’s early goal and were close to an equaliser when Rhys Norrington-Davies’ cross was volleyed goalward by Ian Henderson, goalkeeper Marko Marosi pushing the ball onto the foot of the post.

Godden’s strike looked to have secured the win but Wilbraham set up a nervy finish for the visitors.

Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy said: “It was a difficult result to take.

“Obviously Coventry scoring so early in the game was a setback for the lads but in the first half I felt we created some good goalscoring chances ourselves against a high-calibre opponent.

“We weren’t able to take those chances and it was a tough game, no denying that, but I felt we gave as good as we got in the second half.

“We could have done certain things better, no doubt about that, but the lads gave everything and we just didn’t quite get the balance right between keeping the ball and penetrating their backline.”