Coventry Live

Mark Robins insists Wednesday night’s big Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur is a “free hit” for Coventry City against one of the most aggressive pressing sides in Europe.

The Sky Blues break off from their league campaign to entertain Spurs at the CBS Arena (8pm kick-off) knowing they will be clear underdogs, but also that there will be a hint of expectation from the Championship side that beat Premier League Wolves and were a ridiculous VAR decision away from knocking out Manchester United in a brilliant FA Cup run last season.

Asked if the players are in good spirits and looking forward to the game, the City manager said: “I think they were after the game on Saturday, having played pretty well and created a load of chances. And had we taken those and taken the win it would have given us a really good platform going into the Tottenham game. But whatever happened on Saturday wouldn’t necessarily prepare you for a Tottenham side who have the most aggressive press in Europe at the minute, with top players in their side.”

Robins, who has previously used the competition to give game time to his wider squad, admits it’s a balancing act and that he has half an eye on Saturday’s home match against Swansea while also conscious of putting out a team that will compete with the Premier League side. His opposite number Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has a similar issue, having lost to Arsenal on Sunday and keen to bounce back against Brentford at the weekend, while also determined to back up his bold statement that he intends to win silverware this season, with the League Cup clearly a great opportunity to achieve that.

“We have got a game on Saturday, and they have got a game on Saturday, and it’s just a nightmare trying to get a side that can compete against a really top team, to be fair, with an eye to the next game coming really quickly after it,” admitted Robins.

“I am sure they have got similar issues, but they will be pretty different to ours, but similar thoughts. We have to wait and see what they do but, for us, we have to try to navigate through an interesting few days because we want the three points on Saturday, there’s no doubt about it.”

He added: “We have got a really, really tough game and we don’t just want to turn up and be passengers. We have got to try to compete and give them a game. We know that Premier League athletes are different animals, but we have done OK against some of those teams before, so there’s always a chance. But again, it’s the same old cliché, you have got to be at your best and they have got to have a off night. But that’s not to say we won’t be having a real go, because the chance of getting through is mouth-watering.

“I think the crowd will be around 25,000 and they are bringing a few, sold their allocation out as you’d expect from a Premier League team, and it’s a mouth-watering game.”

As for how strong a side he expects Spurs to put out, Robins said: “That’s for them. We’re just looking at what we can do and making our priority. That’s all we can do. We are coming up against a Premier League side that has aspirations to win trophies. They have spent an awful lot of money on a stadium that’s magnificent. They are coming to our stadium for the first time.

“They have probably got 30-35 outstanding footballers in their squad, their decision making on the ball and the speed that they work at... It’s just brilliant to watch. They play a really high line and people have been open eyed with amazement at that, but if you can do that and condense the front end of the pitch, if teams want to play out then they have got to be really good to do that.”

He added: “I am just looking forward to the game because this, for us, is one hundred percent a free hit. One hundred percent, and we have got to go and do what we can to upset the equilibrium.”

Coventry City take a break from the rigours of the Championship on Wednesday night when they entertain Tottenham Hotspur in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Sky Blues will be underdogs against the Premier League side, no matter how strong a side Spurs’ boss Ange Postecoglou fields against Mark Robins’ men in the competition in which most top flight managers, and even many in the second tier, tend to make wholesale changes to their first choice line-up.

Robins has done it in the past, not least to give wider members of his squad valuable game time while also taking the opportunity of giving some a rest. However, virtually every player will want to feature in such a glamorous tie. Especially after Postecoglou's boast that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.

Asked if he’ll have to manage is squad carefully for this one, the City boss admitted: “Some will be absolutely shattered and then we have got Swansea at home a couple of days later, so yes, is the short answer. I’m going to have to have a look at that. They’ll get a day off and then be back in and I will have a look and see who will be available.”

One position the manager tends to change as a matter of course is the goalkeeper, with Ben Wilson having played in the previous two rounds of the Cup, and therefore expected to come in for first choice Oliver Dovin.

Joe Latibeaudiere went off with cramp and fatigue just after the hour at Watford at the weekend so it remains to be seen whether he will have recovered enough to go again on Wednesday night when he could again fill in at right-back, thus allowing Milan van Ewijk to push forward to deputise for Tatsuhiro Sakamoto. The Japanese winger, however, is back in training after suffering an ankle injury against Norwich and could make a return to the side, which would allow Van Ewijk to resume his regular slot in the back four.

The central defensive pairing is two from Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching and Luis Binks, the latter of whom sat out at the weekend and will therefore be fresh to face his former club. The left-back berth, meanwhile, should see Jake Bidwell return in place of Jay Dasilva, who visibly tired in the second half at Vicarage Road.

Midfielder Josh Eccles suffered a shoulder injury at the weekend and, although he carried on playing for the entire 90 minutes, may well make way for Jamie Allen to come in alongside Victor Torp. Former Arsenal prospect Ben Sheaf will be desperate to play in this one but doubts remain about his fitness. Although back in full training after recovering from a pre-season ankle injury, he’s barely played and is therefore unlikely to be able to get through a full game, assuming he’s ready to make a return.

Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ephron Mason-Clark are also options for the wide right position, while Haji Wright is expected to be deployed on the left, with Jack Rudoni continuing in the number ten role. Norman Bassette started the last round of the Cup ahead of first choice front man Ellis Simms but, again, the fact that it’s Tottenham might mean Robins goes as strong as possible.

Ange Postecoglou admits he’s likely to make a number of changes to his Tottenham side to face Coventry City in the Carabao Cup.

But the Australian also knows the competition is probably the Premier League club’s best chance of winning a trophy this season, and was in defiant mood to back up pre-season claims about winning silverware in his second season in charge when speaking in a prickly interview after Sunday’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

“I’ll correct myself - I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed,” he snapped, in his post-North London derby interview. “I’ve said it now. I don’t say things unless I believe them.”

Such a statement would appear to add extra significance to Spurs’ next game on Wednesday night, when they travel to face Championship Sky Blues in the third round of the League Cup.

Tottenham’s current trophy drought stands at a long 16 years since Jonathan Woodgate’s extra-time goal saw Chelsea beaten 2-1 in the 2007/08 League Cup final at Wembley under Juande Ramos, their only major silverware claimed so far this century.

Postecoglou will have to weigh up the strength of his selection to face Mark Robins’ men against the desire to give game time to younger and wider squad players.

Asked about his thinking ahead of the trip to the CBS Arena, and the opportunity to make changes, he said: “Not just the younger players but other players in the squad. We need to give them game time. Not just game time, but the opportunity to show that they can be a part of this, and push some of the guys who started today (against Arsenal) in terms of playing because ultimately that’s what we need, we need competition for places and Wednesday night is a good opportunity to do that.”

Mark Robins admits that it’s going to ‘take a while’ to get Ben Sheaf back up to speed following his return to full contact training with his Coventry City teammates.

The Sky Blues boss has revealed that he hopes to get the influential midfielder along with winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto back “some time” this week but insists he won’t take any risks with either of them. Sheaf – who has been sorely missed since suffering ankle ligament damage in pre-season – made a tentative return as a late substitute against Oxford in the Carabao Cup last month but aggravated the injury two days later in training, and hasn’t been involved since.

He was back on the grass running last week, as was Sakamoto who limped off at half-time against Norwich before the international break, also with an ankle injury, and the pair are hoped to be available to return to the squad against Swansea City this coming weekend. Whether it’s too soon, however, for Wednesday night’s big cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur remains to be seen.

“Let’s see where they are at this week,” said Robins, speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Watford.

“I will only put them back in when I am not risking them. But I think they have got to be honest, which they have been, and that’s great because then I can make proper decisions rather than guessing. And I don’t like guessing, for obvious reasons. But they have been really honest and hopefully I can get them back at some point this week. But they are back training.”

As for Sheaf’s fitness, the manager admits: “That’s going to take a while to get up to speed.”

Meanwhile, Joel Latibeaudiere limped off just after the hour at Vicarage Road at the weekend, replaced by Haji Wright, but the news is good for the versatile defender who was away with Jamaica during the previous fortnight.

Asked about the nature of his injury, Robins said: “Joel had cramp off the back of two games in midfield (for Jamaica) and the travel. He landed back on Thursday afternoon and came straight in. We were trying to do the recovery and protocol to keep him awake until bedtime, and then he slept Thursday night in his own bed and then obviously played the game.

"He’s the only one, I think, although Haji trained pretty well on Friday, but Joel is the one I look at and think, yeah, you can do it, because he’s used to that, used to the travel. And he did really, really well (against Watford).”

And finally, midfielder Josh Eccles is nursing an injury after falling awkwardly at the weekend, with Robins revealing: "He's has got a shoulder problem where he landed funnily, so we'll have to see how he is."

Coventry City have released their ticket prices for the forthcoming Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur and it’s fair to say they’ve been met with a mixed response from fans.

The Sky Blues match will be an 8pm kick-off at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Wednesday, September 18. Ticket prices for the game are as follows: Adults - £30 (ST holder) £37 (non-ST holder); Over-65s - £25 (ST holder) £32 (non-ST holder); 18-21s - £25 (ST holder) £32 (non-ST holder); Under-18s - £20 (ST holder) £25 (non-ST holder).

A £1 per ticket booking fee will apply to all ticket purchases. The 24/25 Season Ticket holder price will only apply when the supporter is purchasing their own 24/25 Season Ticket seat. Details of when they will go on sale will be announced in due course.

Here’s how Sky Blues supporters have reacted to the pricing:

Jodie Turner: It’s no more expensive than a cat A game, I don’t understand the tears over this. If you don’t want to pay it, don’t go. I’m glad ST holders have a discount though…

Mark Sephton: Honestly. Those prices are a bit rich…. £50 for me and my daughter. Should have come in around £35 for both. Under price and over deliver and reading the room haven’t come into this.

Rob: Fair pricing for a big Prem club game… fair dos.

Sean Paul Isherwood: Family of 4 £104!! joke.

Mick1968: Just had two messages from my mates saying they won’t be going at those prices. Including myself £90 down already. C’mon CCFC that’s way to much to charge for a game vs spurs u21’s. We won’t fill the ground now at those prices sadly.

Sofcell: To watch spurs 2nd team lol.

Ben Robbins: Under 18 prices are disappointing.

Bully: Single adult is probably fair, factor in a few kids tickets then it becomes unaffordable but that is what Doug Oasis wants it seems.

Darren Curley: I think the prices are fair enough, if you don’t want to pay it, don’t go…. Simple as really.

My name Jeff: Massively over priced for a mid week tv cup 3rd round game but that’s my choice not to pay. Fair play to other who I’m sure will attend.

Luke: Not a chance am I going at that price, £31 to watch us play against a second 11 is a joke.

Wardie: Prices are absolutely horrendous.

Michael Healy: Am I the only one that think that’s a reasonable price?

Kevin Dale: Such a joke, how can you justify prices! Wednesday night, televised! It’s the bloody carabao cup. Even as a season ticket holder I’m disappointed in it being £30. Let alone people paying £65 for one adult and a child if they’re not season ticket holders. Poor, poor form!