Mark Robins’ ‘disappointment’ after Coventry City injury blow ahead of Sunderland clash

Last season’s play-off finalists have had an indifferent start to the season

Mark Robins could be without Coventry City summer signing Milan van Ewijk for the game against Sunderland after injuring his toe in the draw to Swansea City. The Sky Blues were without midfielder Kasey Palmer for the 1-1 draw with the Swans and currently sit in mid-table ahead Sunderland’s visit to the Coventry Building Society Arena.

“Kasey has a family thing he has to do deal with that’s why he’s not involved,” Robins revealed. “Milan has a toe problem, that’s why he was withdrawn.”

Sunderland have injury problems of their own with Patrick Roberts, Chris Rigg, Elliot Embleton, Ross Stewart, Jenson Seelt, Eliezer Mayenda, Jay Matete, Aji Alese and Corry Evans all out of the trip to Coventry. Nonetheless, Tony Mowbray’s side were able to pick up their first win of the campaign against Rotherham United thanks to a brace form summer signing Jobe Bellingham.

Robins on the other hand was left disappointed his side threw away their lead at the Liberty Stadium, he said: “You can’t hide the disappointment, but really there’s a disappointment there because I know we’re better than that but not quite yet. We have a lot of work to do but it’s still early days.

“A point away here having had the lion’s share of the game, which we’ve not experienced before here is good, but for me the goal we conceded is too soft. We had just got in front, and we didn’t reorganize quickly enough.

“We got a goal up and looked comfortable and played some really good football, but we missed the final pass and cutting edge. We need a bit more but that will come over time.

“If we defend that properly then we come away and win the game not just 1-0, but you can go on and win it two or three and those are the margins. If we don’t it’s going to cost us more goals, so we need to know the reasons why and the reasons why we didn’t go on and win the game.

“I said the explosive nature of our play was good for spells and we had a 20 minute spell when we pinned them in and had chance after chance and corner after corner but we have to make one of them tell which means they have to come out, but they were able to drop behind the ball.