Coventry City boss Mark Robins gives positive verdict on Sunderland after tactical game of ‘chess’

Coventry City boss Mark Robins likened his side’s draw against Sunderland to a game of ‘chess’ as ‘two really good teams’ cancelled each other out. After last weekend’s home win against Rotherham United, the Black Cats picked up their first point on the road and their first clean sheet of the campaign as they earned a goalless draw against last season’s play-off finalists at the CBS Arena.

Robins praised Sunderland, as well as his own team, after the match, and singled out Sky Blues’ skipper Kyle McFadzean – brother of former Sunderland defender Callum – for his performance, labelling him a ‘warrior’. “It was two really good teams, really good,” said Robins.

“Two teams trying to play football and it was like chess at times, trying to pull players out of position. There were really good technicians on both teams.

“I thought across the back line we were outstanding. Milan [van Ejwik] has had his best game, Jay Dasilva was really good today and McFadzean was just a joke.

“He’s thrown himself in the way, he’s got injured and he’s making tackles, getting in front of things … he was a warrior. The other two [centre-backs] around him have worked really hard to get that clean sheet.

“We played some really good football. They left three players up to try and break out at any given time and that’s dangerous. We try to open them up and that means as soon they turn it over, they’re on the counter. It was a really good game.

“The most difficult thing is to score the goals and both teams found that. They’ve not got a recognised striker but [Jobe] Bellingham put himself about, [Bradley] Dack dropped into pockets, and they’ve got real pace as well.

“It was a good game and on balance it can be disappointing not to take that big, big chance but it was a high-energy game with quite a bit of quality.”

Former Sunderland loanee Ellis Simms was denied by Anthony Patterson at the end of the first half, but the best chance of the game for Coventry fell to substitute Haji Wright ten minutes from time but the record signing was once again foiled by Patterson.

Robins said: “We brought Yasin [Ayari] on and he immediately drove through the centre, then you’ve got Haji and when he goes through, you’re just waiting for him to put in the far corner like [Arsenal’s] Thierry Henry used to do.

“It could then have been three points and a great result but it just didn’t quite happen.”