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Its Play-Off Semi - Final Time>>>>>>
Coventry City manager Mark Robins is ready for the tactical challenge faced by a two-legged play-off semi-final
Mark Robins has revealed that Coventry City fans can expect a few “surprises” in Sunday’s big play-off semi-final opener against Middlesbrough.
The double header clash with Boro will see the two Championship sides battling it out over two legs, home and away, for a place in the final at Wembley Stadium against either Luton Town or Sunderland, who play their semi-final first leg on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm).
The Sky Blues will be looking to capitalise on their home advantage, playing in front of a sell-out crowd at the CBS Arena, all of whom will be City fans bar 2,000 away supporters travelling down from Teesside.
It should make for a fascinating tactical contest between the two managers. Will Michael Carrick, for instance, take a cagey approach to the first leg, attempt to soak up the pressure, stifle Coventry ’s attacking game and hit them on the counter attack in the hope of getting at least a draw to take back to the Riverside next Wednesday night when he will have the full force of his home support behind his team? Alternatively, he could go for it from the off and go all out to overrun the Sky Blues from the first whistle and attempt to turn the crowd. Either way, navigating two games will be a very different approach to a one-off match, particularly with so much at stake.
Asked about the tactical challenge and whether he’ll be trying to second guess what Carrick will do with all the variables at play, Robins said: “I am sure they will all come into my mind but from my point of view you prepare the way you have all season. I think you can over think things, but ultimately it’s down to how prepared the players are and then trying to be calm in the moment and play their game.
“It’s exciting and I am sure the adrenaline will be pumping through everyone, including the supporters, but it is only another game. From my point of view we’ll prepare as normal.”
Asked how different he thinks Boro will be from Monday’s 1-1 draw at their place, the manager said: “I honestly don’t know because there are different ways of going about games. Obviously there’s a lot of hype around these games and it’s how people handle them. We talk about building up an occasion and the players are really positive. You have just got to embrace it because it’s a brilliant opportunity, that’s for sure.
“It’s just another game, and having played them on Monday, this Sunday and next Wednesday it’s a triple header in a short space of time and we’ll obviously know a lot more about each other as the games go on. But for me, it’s just about planning and preparing as we have all season and going out and playing the game.”
He added: “I think they are a good side. They will be confident, and rightly so because they have some good players. We have just faced off at their place. This is a different game.
“We’ll build up to is the same as we always have. There will be a few surprises, I think.”
www.coventrytelegraph.net
Apparently Coventry fans have been letting off fireworks outside Boro`s hotel! Well its kind of them to pay us such respect - but today is going to be tough and the only respect we have is self-respect. We cant afford to let our guard down. We`ve had a foretaste of Coventry`s style of play and their main threats. We know Gyokeres is one big unit and a real threat. Coventry have quality all over the park and they had clearly done their home-work on us before the last League game of the season. But they`ve had their day. Now we step up a gear and take it to them. Its in our own hands.
Whatever is happening elsewhere, there`s no doubt the team will be fully focused on ourselves and playing at our best. Results elsewhere dont matter. Its a semi-final and this is the first half.
Its serious business now: every pass, every shot, every foul, every breath we take - we`l be watching Boro and knowing we can do the job. Its a sell-out at Cov and our fans will be making one hell of a din to fire up the lads.
We`ve got to save our fireworks until we lift the trophy at Wembley.
Come on lads.
Up The Mighty Boro!
Mark Robins.
"Its only another game"
[Edit from Coventry Evening Telegraph]
Whatever is happening elsewhere, there`s no doubt the team will be fully focused on ourselves and playing at our best. Results elsewhere dont matter. Its a semi-final and this is the first half.
Its serious business now: every pass, every shot, every foul, every breath we take - we`l be watching Boro and knowing we can do the job. Its a sell-out at Cov and our fans will be making one hell of a din to fire up the lads.
We`ve got to save our fireworks until we lift the trophy at Wembley.
Come on lads.
Up The Mighty Boro!
Mark Robins.
"Its only another game"
[Edit from Coventry Evening Telegraph]
'A few surprises' - Coventry City boss drops tactical hint ahead of big play-off test with Middlesbrough
Coventry City play-off news from CoventryLive as the Sky Blues prepare to face Middlesbrough in Sunday's semi-final first leg play-off clash with Middlesbrough
Coventry City manager Mark Robins is ready for the tactical challenge faced by a two-legged play-off semi-final
Mark Robins has revealed that Coventry City fans can expect a few “surprises” in Sunday’s big play-off semi-final opener against Middlesbrough.
The double header clash with Boro will see the two Championship sides battling it out over two legs, home and away, for a place in the final at Wembley Stadium against either Luton Town or Sunderland, who play their semi-final first leg on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm).
The Sky Blues will be looking to capitalise on their home advantage, playing in front of a sell-out crowd at the CBS Arena, all of whom will be City fans bar 2,000 away supporters travelling down from Teesside.
It should make for a fascinating tactical contest between the two managers. Will Michael Carrick, for instance, take a cagey approach to the first leg, attempt to soak up the pressure, stifle Coventry ’s attacking game and hit them on the counter attack in the hope of getting at least a draw to take back to the Riverside next Wednesday night when he will have the full force of his home support behind his team? Alternatively, he could go for it from the off and go all out to overrun the Sky Blues from the first whistle and attempt to turn the crowd. Either way, navigating two games will be a very different approach to a one-off match, particularly with so much at stake.
Asked about the tactical challenge and whether he’ll be trying to second guess what Carrick will do with all the variables at play, Robins said: “I am sure they will all come into my mind but from my point of view you prepare the way you have all season. I think you can over think things, but ultimately it’s down to how prepared the players are and then trying to be calm in the moment and play their game.
“It’s exciting and I am sure the adrenaline will be pumping through everyone, including the supporters, but it is only another game. From my point of view we’ll prepare as normal.”
Asked how different he thinks Boro will be from Monday’s 1-1 draw at their place, the manager said: “I honestly don’t know because there are different ways of going about games. Obviously there’s a lot of hype around these games and it’s how people handle them. We talk about building up an occasion and the players are really positive. You have just got to embrace it because it’s a brilliant opportunity, that’s for sure.
“It’s just another game, and having played them on Monday, this Sunday and next Wednesday it’s a triple header in a short space of time and we’ll obviously know a lot more about each other as the games go on. But for me, it’s just about planning and preparing as we have all season and going out and playing the game.”
He added: “I think they are a good side. They will be confident, and rightly so because they have some good players. We have just faced off at their place. This is a different game.
“We’ll build up to is the same as we always have. There will be a few surprises, I think.”
Coventry City boss says there will be a 'few surprises' against Middlesbrough
Coventry City play-off news from CoventryLive as the Sky Blues prepare to face Middlesbrough in Sunday's semi-final first leg play-off clash with Middlesbrough
www.coventrytelegraph.net
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