Cov’s form proves they can hack it at the top, says coach...
By Brian Halford
March 4 2014
Pleased as he is by Coventry’s late-season surge, forwards coach Dave Addleton admits this campaign will go down as a question of what might have been.
A superb victory at Woodlands at the weekend saw Coventry leapfrog Fylde into third place in National One. It also extended the Blue and Whites’ winning run to three games and the much-changed team is operating as well as it at any stage in 2013-14.
But it has all come a bit too late to make an impact at the top with leaders Doncaster 22 points clear and Rosslyn Park 14 ahead of the Butts Park outfit.
And while there has been undeniable progress at the club over the last 12 months, like everyone Addleton wonders if it might have been even better.
“I think we will be kicking ourselves at the end of the season,” the former hooker admitted. “If I am being truthful we always said we would have no problem getting up for the big games but this league is won against the mid-table sides.
“And we’ve been to places like Worthing and Blackheath and not performed. You have to win those away games to win the league.
“Maybe that was always going to be a step too far this season but those wins would have put us right up there because I think we are operating at a similar level to Doncaster and Rosslyn.”
It is now incumbent on the Coventry squad to make sure they remember those lessons next season, when they will be targeting a return to the Championship.
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So far Coventry have shown that on a good day they can beat any team 3-16 in the league. On a bad day they can't. They have yet to beat either of the teams currently at the top of the league.
However, in the closing stages of the season they have to play Esher, Doncaster and Rosslyn Park, amongst others.
If they beat these teams then I would concur as to a lost opportunity. If they dont, then more work needs to be done to mount a realistic challenge next season.