Sky Blues versus Shakers: A different pressure

Coventry City’s second home game in four days sees them take on Bury at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday afternoon.

While the Sky Blues have been able to take some positives out of their opening two games, both 1-1 draws, their start to the season will take on a healthy glow if they justify their odds-on favouritism and take three points from this game.

Peter Shirtliff took caretaker charge of the Shakers after Richie Barker was appointed as the new manager of Crawley prior to the start of the season and was pleased with his side’s application in their opening day draw against Brentford.

‘I’m very pleased with the performance,’ he said after the goalless draw at Gigg Lane.

‘I thought the players really worked hard on a red hot day. We put them under pressure and had quite a few efforts on goal but overall it was a fair result.’

‘positive’

Speaking prior to a midweek trip to face another of last season’s relegated sides, Doncaster Rovers, Shirtliff added: ‘We’ve got our first clean sheet of the season, we’ve got our first point on the board and we’re unbeaten. That’s a real positive for this club right now.’

That game at the Keepmoat Stadium ended in a 2-1 reverse for Bury after skipper Steven Schumacher received a second yellow card but showed what a stern test awaits for City on Saturday against a side who knocked them out of the League Cup last season.

The home crowd are likely to see plenty of possession for their team in a match that the fans will expect Andy Thorn’s men to win. It`s a different position for City to be in after last season`s troubles and a type of pressure that they will have to come to grips with quickly if they are to mount a promotion challenge.

***Update***Bury have strengthened their squad ahead of the game with the notable signing of Morthern Ireland’s legendary striker David Healy on a twelve-month deal.