Mark Robins praises ‘outstanding performances’ after Coventry beat Luton

Posted Saturday, October 26, 2024 by PA

Coventry boss Mark Robins claimed his team were thoroughly deserved winners after a spectacular comeback to beat 10-man Luton 3-2.

The Hatters were 2-0 up at the break after Carlton Morris’ penalty and Elijah Adebayo’s second goal in consecutive games.

Ellis Simms powered home a header and Victor Torp’s spectacular effort got City back on level terms before Haji Wright bundled home a winner after Tom Holmes had been sent off.

It was just a second win in 10 league outings for Robins’ side, who lifted themselves out of the bottom three in the process.

“I thought we were thoroughly deserved winners and I thought everybody played their part,” said Robins.

“I thought there were some top, outstanding performances, some really brilliant elements to the performance and all the contributions were really good.

“We were calm, we played to what the game gave us, we turned them, we ran after it, we put them under pressure and you could see that they’d played on Wednesday.

“I don’t think we deserved to go one down, never mind two down. They had two opportunities to score and they took them both because of decisions that we made.

“We seem to make elementary decisions and get punished for them, and there’s just no rhyme or reason to it. Communication, desire, it was all there on show apart from two moments.

“I thought we defended really well against those two (Morris and Adebayo), I think we played as well against them as we’ve played ever, it’s only the second time I think we’ve beaten them in the time we’ve been playing against them.”

The Sky Blues were roared on by more than 26,000 at the CBS Arena after a difficult period that had seen them drop into the relegation zone.

Robins added: “It’s humbling because there’s no doubt about it, it happens every year and I say I could so easily have lost my job, and the fact I haven’t and I don’t feel under that much pressure from anybody here, the supporters have been absolutely amazing and I’ll do everything I can do get us to where we want to get to.”

Luton manager Rob Edwards admitted the defeat left him feeling as bad as he ever has in football after last weekend’s win against Watford was followed by defeats to Sunderland and Coventry.

He said: “It’s on me, 2-0 up away from home and we have lost the game. I feel as bad as I have ever felt in football right now. It’s difficult to come out now and speak.

“It was difficult, it was hard. We tried to make changes earlier, even at 2-0 we changed the pressing because they were going fairly direct and in behind anyway.

“Ultimately we haven’t defended well enough, they get a glimmer of hope from a set piece and the momentum is with them and in the stadium.

“We tried everything, players are giving me everything but ultimately we’ve lost the game from a commanding position and that’s on me.

“It was hard because we were trying to press but as soon as the ball would go to an outside centre back for them it was spinning in with quality in behind, it was hard then to try and get any foothold in the game.

“We defended well in the first half and had to put bodies in the line but we didn’t do that well enough in the second half.

“Six days now before we go again. Two good performances but ultimately it’s one win and two defeats.”