Coventry v Portsmouth: The Opposition ViewÂ

Andy Turner, from the Coventry Telegraph, gives the lowdown on the Sky Blues' season so far'¦Â
Coventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA ImagesCoventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA Images
Coventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA Images

A little bit of uncertainty is the general feeling at Coventry after 10 games of the season.

They have been inconsistent. The Sky Blues defeated Barnsley 1-0 but then went to third-from-bottom Bristol Rovers the following week and were 3-0 down within the first 23 minutes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, they bounced back again against another side tipped for promotion in Sunderland on Saturday.

Coventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA ImagesCoventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA Images
Coventry boss Mark Robins. Picture: PA Images

Coventry played extremely well, earned a 1-1 draw and could have snatched a victory.

The club felt they shouldn't have been relegated from League One in the 2016-17 campaign. Coventry had an awful season and Mark Robins was appointed manager too late to save them.

They obviously bounced straight back up and the plan at the start of this term was to push in the top half of the table again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nobody was saying the Sky Blues would get promoted but they were confident enough to push for the play-offs and that is the plan.

It's been an inconsistent start and the biggest problem so far has been scoring goals.

Conor Chaplin has come in and played so well. 

He's still looking for his first goal from open play '“ his only strike came from the penalty spot against Oxford '“ and has had two goals disallowed for being marginally offside. 

Regardless, they were really good finishes and fans are excited by him because his movement is excellent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chaplin isn't allowed to play against Pompey but Robins has a lot of options.

Yes, they will miss him because he's developing a nice partnership with Jonson Clarke-Harris.

But there are more than enough options to come in. 

In the summer, the club signed Amadou Bakayoko from Walsall and Jordy Hiwula from Huddersfield. 

The pair arrived late in the window when Coventry thought they weren't going to get Chaplin.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The duo have big points to prove and you would expect both to do themselves justice.

Michael Doyle doesn't look like he's slowing down whatsoever despite being 37 now. 

He's so fit, so competitive and so consistent. Although the team have been inconsistent, you get exactly the same from him week-in, week-out. 

Former Pompey centre-back Tom Davies hasn't been starting this season but came on against the Black Cats when Junior Brown went off with concussion and had a good game. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He's had a mixed start in the under-23s but the fans really like him because he's a no-nonsense defender.

Ex-Blues loanee Dominic Hyam has also been excellent. He's not quick but reads the game so well. 

Â