Match views . . .

Photo: Alan Howarth

STEPHEN ROBINSON

ATHLETIC boss Stephen Robinson spoke positively about his team after Saturday's draw, a performance which he clearly felt was deserving of a victory.

He said: "I think we totally dominated the game, especially in the second half.

"In fact that second half was probably the best we've played since I came to the club.

"When you look at the way we played, the chances we created, and then we hit the crossbar, there was only one team in it.

"We were organised and in control of the game in the first half, then we just stepped it up in the second.

"I've spoken before that we've got a small budget compared to Coventry's, but that's just where we are as a club.

"Coventry are a big, big club with a lovely big stadium, but we know what we've got and we've brought players in who want to play for the football club.

"They will always show great desire, and that pleases me.

"Yes, it's a good point on the road, but we were disappointed because of the way we thought we'd dominated the whole second half.

"The lads know how well they played, but sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football. That was certainly the case here."

Eyebrows were raised before the game when Ousmane Fane wasn't in the 18, despite being available again following a one-match suspension.

Robinson explained: "We've built a squad whereby players won't necessarily walk back into the team if they've been out injured or suspended.

"There is a massive fight for places here now, and that's not just on the pitch, but on the bench too.

"We've got to create that kind of environment where nobody walks back into the team."

Coventry boss Tony Mowbray continues in search of a first league victory of the season.

He said: "I thought defensively we were fine; I thought Bigirimana was immense again and Ben Stevenson when he came on in the second half deserves credit for stabilising the game for us, but it's just at the top end of the pitch and the decision making where we need to improve.

"It's the desire to want to score a goal, to want to get in the box, run into the box, deliver into the box - that decision making has got to be so much better.

"What can we do other than keep working at it, keep telling them and trying to inspire them with words."