Match Views... Coventry City

John Sheridan

ATHLETIC manager John Sheridan was delighted to again pick up a vital victory, this time at Coventry's expense:

"It is a massive three points. Every point we pick up now is going to be big for us now, towards the end of the season.

"We were playing a team at the bottom of the table, and I never thought Coventry would be down there. Some people might look at it on paper 'there is three points' but it didn't work out like that at all.

"I knew it would be a tough game and they have a really good, experienced manager.

"I expected them to fight all the way and it wouldn't surprise me if they get out of it.

"It was a grind for us. On a difficult pitch, we didn't play well apart from 20 minutes after half-time when we got 3-1 up.

"It was difficult in the first half and we didn't really get going. I felt sorry for Ryan Flynn and I said to the lads at half-time that we weren't looking for him or playing to his strengths.

"Our substitutes gave us a bit of a spark, especially Michael Ngoo who was a handful when he came on giving us something different with his height.

"We changed the shape and got on the front foot and we could possibly have scored more goals.

'IMPORTANT THING'

"We could have seen it through more easily - but we won and that's the most important thing.

"We haven't scored a lot of goals, so it was good to get three. Performance wise, we might have another 10 of those, but if we keep getting three points then I will be happy and it will keep us in this division.

"It is similar to last season in the pitch is difficult and you might have to play off the front men a bit early and get up the other end.

"Ryan McLaughlin's goal was excellent. Wherever I play him, he doesn't grumble, puts in a shift and gets on with his job for the team."

COVENTRY manager Russell Slade felt his side let themselves down at key moments:

"We were the better side for parts of the game.

"We created chances and hit the woodwork a couple of times, but we've conceded three goals.

"We can stick to a game plan and play well, but then we let our standards slip.

"At 2-1 down it was important to stay tight and not concede again, but their player ran through and scored without us laying a glove on him.

"In a way I wish we were rubbish consistently, because that way you know where the faults lie.

"But we play well for a period and then we let it slip, which is down to mental weakness."