Yahoo News Mark Robins' Coventry City season ticket message, ex-favourites making headlines & Vik edges closer to exit
Coventry City gave themselves a crucial lifeline in their quest for the play-offs with a huge three points and injection of confidence after beating title-chasing Leeds United at the weekend.
All focus now switches to another top six side, Southampton, on Tuesday night when the Sky Blues have the opportunity of clawing themselves back to within a point of sixth placed Norwich in their game in hand over the Canaries. Saints have had a bit of a dip in form in recent weeks when they have managed just two wins from their last nine Championship matches, including four defeats, so it might just be a good time to travel to St Mary’s Stadium where Russell Martin’s men have won 12, drawn three and lost four to date this term.
Here, Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner takes a look at all things City in his weekly notebook diary.
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Mark Robins drop season ticket hint
City boss Mark Robins was left in awe of the noise generated by the club’s record league attendance of 30,232 at the CBS Arena against Leeds, and dropped a hint that season tickets will shortly be on sale for next season.
The club usually put them on sale from around March/April, albeit they were made available a little later last summer, and the Sky Blues manager hopes that Saturday’s turnout is a sign of an even bigger uptake and many more near sell-outs at the stadium next season.
Coventry sold just over 19,000 season tickets last time out, which shows just how far the club have come under his seven year tenure.
“I know,” he agreed, “and I think back to 6,000 in League Two and they were all brilliant then, but the fact that we got the attendance really bodes well for the future. And the fact that we got a win and a really decent performance for them should make them want to come back a lot more. So hopefully the season tickets will go on sale soon and they’ll all snap them up.”
He added: “The noise was incredible. I think I have tinnitus or something because there is definitely ringing in my ears, and they were definitely outstanding.”
Arm around Kitch and ‘brick wall’ Bidders
It doesn’t seem like five minutes since Josh Eccles was the baby of the squad, having just broken into the senior side and desperately battling to bridge the gap between development football and the first team.
Now, just a few short seasons on, the Academy graduate is a regular starter who is putting in consistently mature performances and talking like a seasoned pro. In his post-match interview following the superb 2-1 victory over Leeds at the weekend, the midfielder – who celebrated his 24th birthday on Saturday – was asked about Liam Kitching bouncing back to form following his two own goals against Cardiff, with the centre-half popping up with an assist for Ellis Simms’ opener against the title chasers.
“I have been looking after Liam all week and yes, he was not happy after the Cardiff game. That was just unfortunate. He is from Leeds, he is a Leeds boy, so I am pretty sure he would have woken up the same as me. He could not wait to get started!
“To be on the right side of a goal this time, and get an assist is helpful for the team and it shows the character he is. He puts the Cardiff game behind him and then he comes out today against Leeds, and puts in a top performance. He blocked everything, the same goes for Bidders (Jake Bidwell), Bobby (Thomas), Milan (Van Ewijk) and Joel (Latibeaudiere). Everyone put a shift in today.”
Expanding on Bidwell’s incredible diving header goal line clearance against Leeds, Eccles said: “Only Bidders can do that. He has got his neck in an awkward position, diving back towards the goal and he has managed to put it out for a corner.
“Bidders is Bidders! He is a brick wall and he loves defending with a passion. He lives for moments like that and I could not believe it honestly.
“I went up to him afterwards and went ‘what the hell!’ It was crazy.”
Vik edges closer
Viktor Gyokeres’ possible move from Sporting Lisbon after just one season appears to be moving closer to a reality, which is good news for the Sky Blues, of course, who will get another cash windfall from a sell-on clause should the striker be sold.
European transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano posted on X at the weekend: ‘Viktor Gyokeres’ agent Hasan Çetinkaya, expected to be present at Sporting-Benfica game in Lisbon. Understand round of meetings set to take place with interested clubs for the striker with 51 goals/assists this season. Talks will be around €100m price tag to make deal happen.’
A number of clubs have been linked with the 25-year-old Sweden international, including Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan.
Old boy round-up as former favourites shine
Coventry City old boys were busy making the headlines for their respective sides at the weekend.
Cov Kid and ‘one of our own’ Jordan Shipley scored a consolation goal for League One Shrewsbury Town – which also includes Marko Marosi in goal and Shippers’ old Sky Blues Academy mucker Tom Bayliss – in a 3-1 defeat at run-away leaders Portsmouth at the weekend.
Former City favourite Jodi Jones, meanwhile, also notched for the sixth time this term to help League Two Notts County to a 3-0 win at home to Harrogate. Another hugely popular figure from City’s journey from the fourth tier under Mark Robins, Max Biamou, provided an assist when he stepped off the bench for Doncaster Rovers’ 3-0 win at Morecambe.
The 33-year-old striker joined Donny on a free after a short trial period, having not played in over two years following his departure from Dundee United, largely due to injuries, but has scored two goals in seven games to date as he appears to be getting his playing career back on track.
Interestingly, while many Coventry fans have joked about Shrewsbury being packed with former Sky Blues, Doncaster have four old boys on their books with centre-back Richard Wood still going strong and running through brick walls at 38, and having the scars to prove it, while attacking midfielder Zain Westbrooke is also at the club. The 27-year-old, who was a key part of City’s League One title campaign in 2019/20, joined Doncaster just over a year ago following spells at Bristol Rovers and Stevenage, and has made 31 appearances so far this term, scoring two goals.
The fourth former City player at the Keepmoat Stadium is Academy graduate Jay McGrath. The 20-year-old centre-back was released by the Sky Blues and joined St Patrick’s in the League of Ireland but moved back to England in January and has made five starts and one sub appearance since.
Coincidentally, Doncaster’s opponents at the weekend included two more ex-Coventry players in Chris Stokes and Jordy Hiwula. Left-back Stokes, 33, who was part of the club’s League Two promotion side, has been at Bury, Stevenage, Forest Green and Kilmarnock since, and joined The Shrimps on a free last summer.
Former Manchester City prospect and striker Hiwula, meanwhile, 29, has had spells at Portsmouth, Doncaster and Ross County before joining the Globe Arena in February on a free and making one start and eight from the bench so far, without scoring.
