‘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
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 doubleheader 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
The Sky Blues will be looking to capitalize 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 traveling 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 counterattack 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 overthink things, but ultimately it’s down to how prepared the players are and then trying to be calm at 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.”
