LAST TIME OUT
PLASTICS 2 COVENTRY 2
MANAGER
MARK ROBINS
Rotherham United
Robins joined Rotherham United in June 2000 as a player and subsequently as assistant manager,[27] under manager Alan Knill. However, by the end of February 2007, the Millers sat 13 points adrift of safety, making the threat of relegation almost inevitable. This resulted in Knill being sacked on 1 March, with Robins becoming caretaker manager.[28] After a spell of three wins in six games while in charge as caretaker manager, and moving the club off the bottom of League One,[29] Robins' position was made permanent on 6 April 2007.[30] Robins gained much praise for his first two seasons with the Millers. The first saw Rotherham consistently in the automatic promotion places until a late dip in form, and the second almost brought promotion despite a 17-point deduction imposed by the Football League. Robins also attracted many high calibre players to the Don Valley Stadium, including League 2 player of the season Nicky Law and prolific goalscorer Adam Le Fondre.
Barnsley
Robins was appointed as the new manager of Barnsley on 9 September 2009, succeeding Simon Davey. After his first game in charge, the Championship club sat at the bottom of the table looking likely candidates for relegation. By Christmas, Robins had taken them a full nine points clear of the relegation zone and on a run of eight games unbeaten. This was followed by a poor spell towards the end of the season, and Barnsley finished 18th in the table. Robins resigned from his job at the end of the 2010–11 season, because of differences with the board.
Coventry City
On 19 September 2012, Robins was appointed as the new manager of Coventry City, signing a three-year deal. His first game was a 2–1 home defeat against Carlisle United at the Ricoh Arena.
Robins became a fan-favourite catapulting them up the league from relegation battlers to true play-off contenders all in the short time that he had been at the club.
Robins took the club to the Area Final of the Football League Trophy which left the club two games away from Wembley. Coventry City also had to face two Premier League clubs away from home during his time. The first, being Arsenal in the League Cup third round, which resulted in a 6–1 defeat and the second being Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur which ended as a 3–0 loss, knocking the Sky Blues out the FA Cup third round.
Robins was first linked with the vacant Doncaster Rovers position and various other clubs but nothing really came of this interest and he told the Sky Sports cameras before the JPT Semi-Final game against Preston North End that 'it's (Coventry City) in my blood'. However, on 12 February, Coventry City released a statement saying they had allowed Robins to go into talks with Huddersfield Town about their vacant managerial position.
Huddersfield Town
On 14 February 2013, Robins was unveiled as the new manager of Huddersfield Town on a rolling contract.[31] His first game in charge came three days later, a 4–1 defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fifth-round at John Smith's Stadium.[32] On 19 February 2013, Robins took charge of his first league match as Huddersfield manager, a 6–1 defeat away from home against Nottingham Forest.[33] Robins earned his first win as Huddersfield manager on 26 February 2013, a 1–0 victory against Burnley at Turf Moor.[34] Robins made sure that Huddersfield avoided relegation to League One on the final day of the 2012–13 season after drawing 2–2 with Barnsley.[35]
After surviving the following season, Robins and Huddersfield mutually agreed to part company after the first game of the 2014–15 season, a 4–0 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth.[36]
Scunthorpe United
On 13 October 2014, Robins was appointed manager of League One club Scunthorpe United.[37] After a run of two wins in eight games, Robins was sacked by Scunthorpe on 18 January 2016, leaving the club six points above the League One relegation zone.[38]
Return to Coventry City
On 6 March 2017, Coventry City re-appointed Robins as manager with immediate effect, the day after the sacking of previous manager Russell Slade.[39]
Against all the odds, on 2 April 2017, Robins led Coventry to a 2–1 victory over Oxford United in the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley.[40] Robins won his first promotion as a manager after leading Coventry to a sixth-place finish in the 2017-18 EFL League Two, and winning the play-offs at Wembley.[41] Over the course of the 2017-18 EFL League Two season, Robins broke numerous records as Coventry City Manager including: first top six finish in 48 years,[42] first promotion in 51 years[43] and most points in a season.[44] Robins' achievements gained much plaudits from local press and fans alike,[45] when considering Coventry City had only moved down the Football League since relegation from the Premier League in 2001.
The win in the League Two Play Off Final, represented Coventry's third competitive win at Wembley and Robin's second trophy in just over a year.[46]
After an 8th-place finish in the 2018-19 EFL League One season, Robins signed a new contract with the club in October 2019.[47]
In the 2019-20 EFL League One season, Robins took Coventry City to the Championship after winning the league with just 3 defeats all season and unbeaten since 14 December 2019.[48]
Mark Robins won the LMA League 1 Manager of the year award.
On 8 May 2021, Robins guided Coventry City to beat Millwall 6-1 to secure a 16th placed finish, in the club's first season back in the Championship in 9 years.
FORM GUIDE
PNE 5 COVENTRY 10
MACS VIEW
Two league wins all season both in August and neitehr witnessed by me, one defeat in six draws one defeat in the last seven, could be worse like Cardiff but if we play like we did for the majority of the game like we did against Derby we won't be winning any time soon.
Suspect tomorrow's game against a decent Coventry side will be slightly more open than the game on Saturday, but a win is now a must.
Barkhuizen has had a pop in the media this week about we have not been good enough this season, he is right and it is now up to the plays to get their act together.
Doubts beginning to creep in about the head coach and it was rumoured that Robbins was said to be interested in the job when Neil got the DCM
Won't be 18000 tomorrow although some of those will be back for the cup tie next week, getting close to make or break time considering who we play on Saturday
PNE Team News
After missing the weekend’s draw against Derby County through injury, Frankie McAvoy is hoping he will be able to call on Sean Maguire for this fixture.
Those who will miss out though include Ali McCann, Ched Evans and Matthew Olosunde, the latter of which is now back in full training.
Club captain Alan Browne will be in line to feature for North End in what would be his 300th appearance for the club, only the 27th man to reach that landmark.
The Opposition
After finishing 16th in the Championship last season – their first back in the second tier for eight years – Coventry appear to have stepped things up this campaign, currently sat fourth in the table.
The Sky Blues, managed by Mark Robins, have been many people’s surprise package so far this term, and they arrive at Deepdale after thrashing promotion hopefuls Fulham 4-1 before taking a point away from Ewood Park.
Key Stats
PNE will be looking to extend their quite remarkable record against Wednesday night’s visitors, having gone unbeaten in the last 15 meetings with the Sky Blues.
It won’t be as easy as that, though, given Coventry’s impressive form. They’re looking at a major improvement compared to last season, currently sitting 14 points better off than at the same stage in 2020/21.
Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has had a major part to play in that, having been directly involved in 11 of their 18 goals so far this term.
Our Last Meeting
PNE mathematically secured their Championship status towards the end of April 2021 with a 1-0 victory over Coventry.
The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot, as Alan Browne beat Ben Wilson in the home goal after Ched Evans was brought down in the area.
Man In The Middle
Darren England will take charge of Wednesday night’s game, which will be his first Championship match of the season.
So far this term, he’s overseen two Premier League games, as well as Liverpool’s EFL Cup victory over Norwich City.
England’s last time at Deepdale came in February 2021, as PNE played out a goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
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