Sky Blues sign off Ricoh campaign with victory over Walsall, as Robins records another home win...
Coventry City's curtain closer against Walsall ended in smiles at the Ricoh, as George Thomas fired the home side to victory with the only goal of the game.Robins side are on a good run of form on home turf, having not been beaten since mid-March, while also registering three clean sheets against Bristol Rovers, Peterborough and now Walsall.
The manager said: "First-half, three points and a clean sheet. To win in front of the supporters was important. The approach play in to the box was really good.
"We’ve deserved the three points, second-half was disjointed and we were tiring badly. Thankfully we held on, but we caused ourselves a few problems. The Rochdale game was probably more akin to what we’ll face next season.
"It is important to try and not finish bottom of the table, it is embarrassing. We’ve got to build, you’ve seen the support today, right behind us again. That’ll keep me going throughout the summer because we’ll be working really hard to bring the right blend of people in.
"The way that the lads played had a baring on the fans, really fitting performance and result for the final game of the home season."
City now prepare to face Scunthorpe United in their final League One fixture of the 48-game schedule, before taking up a place in the division below for the 2017/18 season.
Robins added: "I wanted to see Reice in a first-team game. Same for Gadzhev, who performed very well and gave us some continuity. Bigi played well again. Sometimes your heart is in your mouth, because they make the wrong decision or pass, but they’ve given me everything again.
"We ended up taking too many risks in the second-half with short places, in danger of dropping ourselves in it. But were a threat on the counter attack."
Commenting on the U18s play-off semi final victory today, the manager said: "I saw a lot of the first-half and they thoroughly deserved it, there are a lot of good players in that team. They’ve got to work hard though, nobody has got a divine right to play in the first-team. Earn the right. But they’ve got some good quality in that side, and some good players."