1 week Ago By [email protected] (Andy Turner)
The mere mention of Coventry City’s frustrating away record at Preston North End is guaranteed to provoke a look from Mark Robins, a frown expressing somewhere between disapproval and disdain. It’s been going on for so long that it’s become the elephant in the room and a challenge amongst the press pack as to who dares to bring it up first. With our friends at BBC CWR leading off the pre-match press conference questioning, I was fairly confident my esteemed media colleague Clive Eakin would cover the delicate matter to save me having to venture into such potentially choppy waters, and risking the wrath of Robins.
I exaggerate, of course. The normally affable manager doesn’t often lose his rag with the press. He’s partial to the odd quip or sarcastic comment when provoked, particularly on the rare occasion when the red tops run into town, usually when there’s some sort of crisis at the club.
READ MORE: 'I'm not stupid' - Mark Robins on Coventry City's fortunes amid Doug King's expectations READ MORE: Ben Sheaf makes summer transfer admission amid contract update and Premier League ambitions But as far as the ‘locals’ go, the lads who are there week in and week out, come rain or shine, we have a fairly good understanding that we’re all pulling in the same direction, and all want success for the Sky Blues , albeit a duty to ask awkwards questions from time to time. Back to the presser, before our man on the mic had chance to broach the subject, the manager made reference to a CoventryLive Q&A from earlier in the week when my opposite number at the Lancashire Evening Post gave his take on the annoying Sky Blues anomaly , Robins offering: “Apparently we can’t win at Preston!” Cue awkward sideways looks and then a characteristic quip: “But we are still going to go, and still have a go, but that’s where we are at. I think the last time we beat them I was manager in 2012/13 maybe, when we won 3-2 at our stadium.
” In a bold attempt to quickly steer it into a positive, Clive put it to him that although the facts were that City have never won a league game at Deepdale in 22 attempts, the 23rd visit provides the perfect opportunity to achieve something that’s not been done before. “There are always opportunities, and you’re right, you’re talking about things that are there and it’s relevant,” he admitted. “There’s no point hiding behind it and for whatever reason we have not won a game there, and certainly, since I have been back here and back in the Championship it has been a tough place to go, and it will be no different this time.
“They’ve changed their manager and they are a good side with lots of talented players that are experienced Championship players now. They have a really good squad. One or two are missing but we expect another difficult game.
But we have nothing to lose.” And just when I thought I’d got away with it, he added: “It’s always a challenge going there and it becomes more of a challenge when obstacles get put in your way with articles and conversations that we have, but there’s no point hiding away from it. You have to face that and at some point it has got to change.
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