By admin 
The sense of relief at the final whistle was palpable, with storm clouds moving swiftly away from the CBS Arena after an uplifting and much-needed win that secured three points.
As fans, we’ve all been through a rough patch lately, witnessing poor form and disappointing results. This has led some loyal supporters to wonder if it marked the beginning of the end for Mark Robins’ incredible reign as Coventry City manager. A vocal minority, as is often the case during tough times, was ready to call for his dismissal. That sentiment would have intensified had the Sky Blues lost to Luton. Even Robins admitted in his post-match press conference that he “could have lost his job” amid the mounting ‘noise’ around the club. However, fair play to Doug King for sticking by Robins and showing confidence in his abilities. Credit also goes to Robins for maintaining his faith in his current players, whom he believes are the strongest squad he’s had in the last seven seasons.
The fans have also played their part, and Saturday’s atmosphere was another great example of what makes this football club so special. Everyone rallied behind the players, even singing the manager’s name. Even at 2-0 down, they recognized the effort and signs of recovery, focusing on the positives rather than turning the atmosphere sour. Robins, aided by former chief executive Dave Boddy, worked hard to rebuild the fanbase, mitigating the toxicity that had developed under Sisu’s rule. They united the players and fans, setting off on an upward trajectory that brought the club close to the Premier League, with four Wembley visits and two promotions along the way. In short, we’ve experienced a lot together over the past seven years, but the enduring sense of togetherness sets us apart.
The last couple of months have taught us to avoid getting ahead of ourselves, a lesson for both the club’s hierarchy and the fans. Expectations soared before the new campaign, partly fueled by the club’s ‘Dream Big, Aim High’ season ticket marketing strategy.
A successful summer friendly campaign, highlighted by a fantastic result against Everton in front of over 17,000 fans, heightened anticipation, and soon City were being touted among the favorites for promotion, with some even convinced of securing an automatic spot before the season began. In short, we all got a bit carried away.
Looking back at the last couple of seasons, it’s easy to see how we became swept up in the excitement. In the 2022/23 campaign, City boasted two standout players, Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres, who played pivotal roles in driving the club to the play-off final, arguably overachieving with a late surge. The departure of these key players led to a significant rebuild, which was always going to take time. After a sluggish start, however, the Sky Blues gained momentum. With new scorers like Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, the team achieved notable heights, particularly in the FA Cup, although league form suffered dramatically after the semi-final heartbreak.
The summer brought exciting signings, but crucial misses in the transfer window, especially in securing a ready-to-go midfielder, left the squad lacking in experience and depth—an issue exacerbated by Ben Sheaf’s early-season injury.
City has shown glimpses of being a competitive Championship side, but they’ve struggled with confidence, which returned in abundance last weekend, and consistency, which remains to be seen in upcoming matches.
There are enough signs to suggest a full-scale recovery is on the horizon, but let’s keep our heads level. Just because City has visited Wembley in recent seasons and taken a few Premier League scalps doesn’t guarantee success. There can be no sense of entitlement to promotion, especially in such a challenging division. The current squad is still a work in progress, likely to take two steps forward and one back as it evolves. Players come and go, requiring periods of adjustment and time to settle before moving forward again.
We all desire success, and many want it now, but football doesn’t always work that way, especially during a steady rebuild. The crucial thing is to maintain the upward momentum, continuously edging toward where the club needs to be. If that means a season of consolidation, so be it. It’s essential that we remain united. City has no divine right to return to the top flight; that will happen when everything aligns—a blend of talent working together. It may be this season, next season, or even the one after.
What’s important is to appreciate the journey, to stick together when times are tough, and to come out stronger on the other side, just as we did against Luton.