Defender Aaron Martin is enjoying a consistent run in Mowbray’s starting XI after overcoming an ankle injury that had kept him out of the side since Boxing day of 2015...
The 26-year old has said that he responds particularly well to Tony Mowbray’s hard line with the defensive players, with the manager having played at centre-back himself for Middlesborough, Celtic and Ipswich during his playing career.
The Sky Blues travel to Peterborough United on Friday evening, with the fixture set to be aired live on Sky Sports. The Posh are also having to contend with the absence of key players, with international call-ups meaning that both sides will be missing parts of their team.
Martin said: “It’s been a frustrating year where injuries have been concerned, whilst I have been fit I have had four or five different centre-back partners. Obviously Jack will be missing with England.
“It’s something that you just have to deal with, it is part of football. There are a few options, we have been trying a few things out in training.”
Peterborough have not won at home in League One since late December, in a 2-0 win over Chesterfield. But Martin is alert that Graham Westley’s side still pose a threat and the three points will be hard fought.
He said: “Peterborough will be a tough game. When we played them earlier this season it was one of our hardest fixtures. As long as we play positively and start scoring again, we’ll be fine.
“If we can go there and defend well, then start attacking with the ball we should hopefully get the three points.
“That is a quality of this league, you never quite know what will turn up on the day. That is football, you never know what is going to happen. As long as you stick to your game plan, we should be fine.”
Martin added: “It’s harder for us boys at the back, centre-half was the gaffer’s trade. I expect him to be tough on me, it gets the best out of me.
“Sometimes I feel like that is his [Mowbray] way of getting me angry for the game. The more angry I am the better I play, I respond to that.
“This season has been one of my best and he [Mowbray] has been a big part of that.”