Sky Blues versus Carlisle: Opportunity knocks

'You look at clubs like Norwich and Southampton who were in similar types of positions then all of a sudden things turned around, they got more out of their players and they ended up with two promotions and these things can happen.'

'That's what we have to do, turn things around and make sure they go the other way.'

Mark Robins, speaking this week after accepting the offer to become Coventry City's new manager and with his team lying at the foot of League One, separated from the bottom on goals scored only.

Despite the Sky Blues woes the job remains a big opportunity for Robins, aged 42 and with previous spells at Rotherham and Barnsley behind him. For the players he has inherited, woeful in defeat at Shrewsbury on Tuesday night and below par all season, it is an opportunity to prove that they are better than their league position suggests.

'brief'

Carlisle will be looking to returning striker Joe Garner, signed on loan from Watford last week, to get amongst the goals for them after a brief appearance in midweek.

'I`m sure with the chances we provide, Joe will get goals," said assistant manager Graham Kavanagh after the draw with Crewe.

'I think he looked like he needed the game and he will get to know the lads and get that bit of understanding over the next few days.'

Two of the three previous winners of Coventry City's Player of the Year award have come to the club from Brunton Park in the shape of Keiren Westwood and Richard Keogh but would anyone now see that move as a step up?

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.