Beware the slide of March

Chris Coleman was talking relegation after a 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United on Saturday left Coventry City just three points above the Championship drop zone.

‘I know as a player what it feels like to taste relegation,’ said the new Sky Blues boss.

‘It’s a horrible feeling that takes a long time to go away. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

‘But we know we are in for a rough ride and the only way we are going to stay out of trouble is if everybody realises the situation we are in.

‘We are down here for a reason. The season is not just five or 10 games old, there are only about 10 games left.’

Drawing 1-1 at half-time, City were beaten by Jack Cork’s strike for the home side.

‘The first half was okay but the second was unacceptable,’ added Coleman.

‘I have told the players that. If we are going to stay out of trouble, we are going to have to do better than this.’

Scunthorpe have now taken four points from the Sky Blues this season and manager Nigel Adkins felt they won without being at their best.

‘We can play much better than this but winning games is all that is important at this stage of the season,’ he said.

‘We have always had a belief that we can get out of trouble and survive at Championship level.

‘We want to be a little bit like that Olympic runner who comes from behind and finishes strongly to cross the line in first place.’

Cork is on loan at Glanford Park from Chelsea and is playing a big part in the Iron’s survival bid.

‘He is a young player with a terrific talent,’ added Adkins.