Venue: Meadow Lane
Competition: SkyBet League Two
Date: Saturday, 11th May
Kick-off: 7.30pm
The Sky Blues welcome Notts County to the Ricoh Arena in the first of a two-legged semi final as City look to get to Wembley for the second time in two years.
City have never been in the play-offs before and last week they achieved their first top six finish for 48 years.
Robins has only the usual individuals in the medical room with Peter Vincenti, Tony Andreu (ACL) and Jodi Jones (ACL) all continuing their recoveries.
Kevin Nolan confirmed this morning that striker Mason Bennet willl miss the play-offs after struggling with a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old has only featured twice for the Magpies and was set to be fit for the games, but will now miss the rest of the season.
The Opponents
The Magpies have three former Sky Blues amongst their ranks. Richard Duffy made 64 appearances over four loan spells with the club including 34 appearances in the 2005-06 season where the Sky Blues finished 8th in the Championship.
Alongside Duffy in the first-team are Carl Dickinson and Jon Stead who both enjoyed shorter periods at the Ricoh Arena. Dickinson made six appearances at left-back while Stead found the net twice on-loan from Ipswich in 2010.
Up-front with Stead in County’s attack are experiences heads Lewis Alessandra and Jonathan Forte along with former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi. The Nigerian made 312 top-flight appearances in the North-East, scoring 53 goals along the way, including 15 in Europe. Last season Ameobi managed four goals in League Two.
Premier League and League Cup winner with Manchester United, Alan Smith has been a regular since moving to Meadow Lane in 2014 and even took charge of the side for a single game after the sacking of John Sheridan.
Manager Quotes
Nolan: “We’ve now got two games to get to Wembley. We’re all in it and we want to win it, so let’s have it. Every game I try to keep a level of consistency but there’s no hiding place now. If we win these next two we go to Wembley, and that’s the be all and end all."
Robins: "There is a game at Wembley at the end of it all and we want to get to it."
Nolan: “For me, it’s about making sure I give the lads the right direction to help them do themselves – and all of us – proud."
Robins: "The crowd will be great. That is what you are in the game for. You want to play in front of massive crowds and against the best opposition that you can. We just have to embrace it. We have got a plan and we just need to stick to it."
Notts County Away Form
L - 2-1 v Grimsby Town
W - 1-3 v Colchester United
L - 1-0 v Accrington Stanley
L- 1-3 v Chesterfield
W - 2-1 v Forest Green Rovers
D - 1-1 v Cheltenham Town