FOOTBALL – Ben Sheaf admits Coventry City must ‘keep feet on the ground’ ahead of play-off run-in
BEN Sheaf admits Coventry City must keep their ‘feet on the ground’ as the Sky Blues close in on a play-off place.
Sheaf captained the Sky Blues to a vital victory against West Bromwich Albion on Good Friday in front a league record attendance at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
And Sheaf insists City are in control of their destiny with the Sky Blues three points clear of the chasing pack in the Championship play-off places with three matches left to play.
The midfielder admits City have recovered from a disappointing start to the campaign which saw the Sky Blues slip to 17th in the table.
However, a stunning run of form has seen the Sky Blues climb into the play-off places.
And Sheaf insists City must continue to perform to the same level in their remaining matches to achieve a top-six finish.
Sheaf added: “The start was not good, but we knew the quality of the dressing room at the start of the season.
“We knew what we are capable of, but since the gaffer has come in, the turn around has been unbelievable.
“We have put on a good run, we have been playing really well of late, so the signs are there, we just need to keep doing it.”
Coventry are next in action against Plymouth Argyle on Monday, April 21 with kick-off at 3pm at Home Park.
Plymouth Argyle boost as player with ‘big, big heart’ set for return for Coventry City clash
Coventry City opposition news from CoventryLive as relegation battlers Plymouth Argyle set to welcome international back for crucial clash with Sky Blues
Plymouth Argyle are hoping to be boosted by the return of key defender with a “big, big heart” for Easter Monday’s clash with Coventry City.
Imposing centre-back Nikola Katic has a chance of recovering from a hamstring injury for the Home Park game against the Sky Blues, head coach Miron Muslic has revealed.
The Good Friday trip to Middlesbrough came too soon for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international but he is working hard to be fit for the game after that as the relegation-threatened Pilgrims fight to stay in the Championship.
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There is also the possibility Makysm Talovierov could be available to play again before the end of the season after he suffered a knee injury last month.
However, Muslic was cautious about putting any timeline on a return to action for the 24-year-old defender and did not want to put him or the club’s medical department under any pressure over that.
Katic, who joined Argyle on loan from Swiss Super League club FC Zurich in late January, missed the vital 2-1 victory over Sheffield United last Saturday after struggling with a hamstring issue for a number of weeks.
Muslic said: “I think we are progressing very well with Nikola Katic. We are very optimistic right now but there is even a little chance to maybe have him available for Monday. He desperately wants, so we will try everything to push for this.”
He continued: “It’s never easy especially when the season is about to end and the loan players know they will return to their home club so they can lose a little bit of spirit but that’s exactly the opposite (with Katic).
“Nikola, that’s an international football player, he could use the next two-and-a-half, three weeks to completely recover but he pushed us almost – don’t get me wrong, it’s not a negative context – for the game against Middlesbrough. I like this.
“That’s why all the data, this is perfect. All the analysing, this is perfect, but that’s why you need a character check before you sign players. I knew in January, this is the right player for us.
