Mark Robins felt that Coventry City’s improvement in the second half was ‘unbelievable’ after the Sky Blues recorded their second 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town in a week.
City went in at 1-0 down against the Tractor Boys, but a Max Biamou strike 10 minutes into the second half levelled the score and they could count themselves unlucky to not have taken all three points.
Robins was delighted with the second half showing from his side, saying, “To get from where we were, as bad as we were in the first half, to get as good as we got in the second half, was just incredible really.”
“In the second half we were able to get that foothold in the game, then we could start to play. We couldn’t in the first half; we just went braindead and didn’t think our way through it.”
After an injury to Dominic Hyam late in the first half, Coventry changed from five at the back to four. “It was a change that was going to be made at half time either way. We needed to do things slightly different.”
It was a change which turned the game on its head. A Max Biamou goal levelled proceedings, before Callum O’Hare hit the bar and Kyle McFazdean and Jamie Allen had golden opportunities to grab a late winner.
“They didn’t really have a chance; I don’t remember a shot” Robins told us. “We put Baka down the right, and he kept (Luke) Garbutt quiet. All the threatening that they did, we soaked up and hit back with counter attacks.”
The game saw the return of Matty Godden from injury, which he sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers. He came on for Max Biamou late on, and Robins was delighted to see his summer signing from Peterborough United back on the pitch. “
Max took his goal brilliantly; he was feeding off scraps in the first half, and we couldn’t get him in the game. In the second half, it was a lot better.
Callum O’Hare returned to the first XI after bagging a 94th minute equaliser against Ipswich last week, and again was a menace to the opposition. Robins described the Aston Villa loanee’s cameo as ‘outstanding’.
In regards to todays opposition, Robins knew that the Tractor Boys are capable on their day. “They’re a good team, with good players, and they put us on the back foot from minute one”, he said. “They could have been out of sight in the first half, but they didn’t take their chances. But these are a top team and make it difficult for anyone.”
But the Sky Blues manager was ultimately pleased with the point, which takes his side back into the SkyBet League One play off places. Summarising the performance, he said, “We looked strong. I thought we were really unlucky; we should have won that game.”