Sky Sports subscribers tired of all the Premier League superstars they are forced to watch every Sunday will be delighted to know that their lunchtime fare this weekend is Coventry City`s home match against Stevenage in League One.
It may not mean much on the national scale but this is a big game for the Sky Blues and their caretaker manager Richard Shaw who will know that his chances of getting the job on a full-time basis will be helped greatly by City getting their first league win of the season.
Not that achieving that feat will be anything but easy. The two sides may have been divisions apart just a few short years ago but, as a well-run club and with a successful manager in Graham Westley, ‘Boro are now an established side in this division and reached the play-offs last time around.
`foundations`
Reputations count for little and Gary Smith, Westley’s successor after his move to Preston at the start of the year, has continued to build on the solid foundations he inherited.
Both of Stevenage’s away league games to date have ended in 1-0 wins for the visitors although Smith was unhappy with the manner of his side’s JPT defeat at Dagenham in midweek and has challenged them to bounce back from that.
‘This group has been built on spirit and determination and there is still an abundance of that,” he said.
‘Applying that and directing it in the right areas at the right times is very important but the players are fully aware of what is expected to maintain their push in the league and we’ll be doing everything to make sure that happens.’
For City it is goals that remain their main problem after scoreless 90 minutes` against Crewe and Burton. David McGoldrick impressed the most against the Brewers in midweek and could start alongside Stephen Elliott. Adam Barton’s absence on international duty may see Gary McSheffrey included if Shaw opts for an attacking line-up.
Share this article
Related Articles
