Mark Robins thrilled with Coventry’s second-half improvement against Ipswich

Posted Sunday, December 08, 2019 by PA

Coventry manager Mark Robins was delighted with how his side managed to bounce back from a subdued first-half performance to claim a 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

The Sky Blues had struggled to settle into the game in the opening period as Will Keane headed Ipswich in front in the 31st minute.

Coventry returned for the second half in a polar opposite fashion to the first, and their rejuvenation was rewarded when Maxime Biamou pulled them level in the 56th minute.

The hosts had opportunities to go on and win the game, although Robins was more than happy with how his side responded to their initial struggles.

“I think the standard of the second half compared to the first was unbelievable,” he said.

“So, to get from where we were, and as bad as we were in the first half, to get as good as we got in the second half in terms of chances and dealing with them was just incredible really.

“In the second half we were just able to get that foothold in the game where we could get the ball down and play a bit.

“But we didn’t in the first half. We didn’t think our way through it.”

It was the second time in a week that Coventry had faced Ipswich at St Andrew’s, and Robins acknowledges they presented a much sterner test than they did in the previous FA Cup encounter.

“They put a lot of pressure on us. They’re a good team, good players and they put us on the back foot really, straight from minute one.

“They could have had a couple of goals in the first half, but they didn’t take their chances. It’s a similar story up and down League One.”

Ipswich assistant manager Stuart Taylor rued his side’s inability to convert their chances after they failed to make their first-half dominance count.

Keane’s first league goal of the season was the sole reward for Ipswich’s efforts, with Alan Judge failing to convert in front of an open goal while Keane also hit the post in the latter stages of the first half.

And Taylor admitted they needed to be more ruthless in front of goal.

He said: “It was clear to see. In the first half we dominated the game, we controlled it from start to finish and we were creative.

“We had good chances, we took one of them but there were three or four that just glance past the post or come off the post.

“That’s football, but we just need to be a little more ruthless on that side of things.

“We’re really, really happy with how the first half went. We moved the ball about with great intensity, we were creative and when we didn’t have the ball we pressed them well and won the ball back.

“Our defensive shape was spot on, so the lads carried out the tasks that they were asked to do.

“We come out for the second half, Coventry were willing to take a risk, and they took their chance.”