Mark Robins will be reminding his Coventry City players about the last time they played Walsall when he gives his team talk this week – a result which he says “damaged” them.
The Sky Blues looked to be heading for a 1-0 win at the Banks’s Stadium before conceding a 90th minute equaliser and then losing the match to a stoppage time penalty.
It came amid a nine game winless sequence in a season comprising a number of good and bad runs.
“It shows that when they get on a run the belief is there but sometimes it shows they get a little bit fragile when things go against them in terms of results,” said the City boss.
“ You can go back to the Walsall game when we conceded two last minute goals that cost us three points and seemed to knock the confidence because it felt so bad.
“We’d controlled that game and they’d not got anywhere near us and then to give them that lifeline and that route back in, and then to be dwelling on that concession and then concede another one was something that damaged us a little bit.
“And we went on a run after that that we didn’t want when performances slipped. The performance against Shrewsbury was another turning point against a side that were battling and fighting.”
He added: “I think that there are a lot of things that go on in games that you remember.
“Those things can help you in the next game and those are the things we will be talking about and pointing out and remembering, and the good things we did during the game as well.
“We have taken it on from then, changed things and the players have taken it on bravely by keep moving the ball and keep passing and keep finding space and opportunities. And it’s an enjoyable game to watch with decent football.
“The fact of the matter is we are performing at a really good level and want to continue to do so and focus on those.”
The Saddlers have won just one of their last ten League One games, their latest set-back coming in a 1-0 home defeat to bottom club AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, leaving manager Dean Keates to admit his side are in free-fall and will be considered by many as favourites for the drop despite still being eighth bottom, albeit just two points off the relegation zone.
“We are facing a side that are fighting for their lives that are playing a lot longer up to a physical striker,” said Robins , who had a season with Walsall as a player inn 1999/2000.
"So we have to compete and challenge and make sure we are robust out of possession and then go and play our game when we have the ball.
“But first and foremost we have to stand up to their physical threat.”
Asked about his former club’s current plight, he said: “It’s no concern of mine. We just concentrate on what we do.
“We have had a good week and I think a win always makes things better in training.
“Things have been lively and bright and I was really pleased with the training yesterday, so the lead up to the game has been really good and we just have to finalise the prep today and look forward to a home game and trying to get another three points.”
City are looking to improve their home form which has seen them win just six times in the division, the same number of victories recorded on the road.
“There’s an expectation at home and we need to improve home results,” said Robins.
“The bigger the game the better the performance, generally.
“Performances have been fairly consistent but what hasn’t been is the taking of chances.”
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