Sky Blues round-up

Coventry City’s victory against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday would have earned the Sky Blues’ players a welcome win bonus while their clean sheet saved Mark Robins’ new fines structure from claiming another victim.

On-loan striker Callum Ball explained to the club website that ‘if your man scores at a set-piece, it’s a £100 fine.’

Interesting stuff and what most people will pick up on is Ball’s surprise that no sort of fines structure, for lateness or any other indiscretion, was in place when he arrived at the club in the summer.

The Derby County man looked cumbersome in his early appearances for the club but has made positive impacts as a substitute in the last two matches, relieving some of the pressure that was building up against MK Dons and then linking up well with David McGoldrick for the winning goal at the weekend.

‘He was outstanding – the catalyst to change the way we performed,’ said the manager afterwards.

‘The first half wasn`t really pleasant watching and I was getting a bit frustrated on the touchline. We needed a spark to take the game by the scruff of the neck and Callum epitomised what I was after.’

Just over 10,000 watched the Cherries match but organisers of the 2015 Rugby World Cup will be hoping for sell-out crowds after choosing the Ricoh as a potential host venue. 10-12 stadia out of the 17 shortlisted will host games during the tournament.

City, meanwhile, hit the road this week for a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at York City and then a tough League One test against Paulo Di Canio’s Swindon side.