Coventry City goalkeeper Joe Murphy has told the Coventry Telegraph that he believes that any success will be down to a settled defence.
He said having a settled back four will be essential if Coventry are to climb the table and challenge for a top six finish.
Since Mark Robins took charge results have improved although there is a long way to go yet and confidence is still fragile. Coventry have won eight points from a possible 12 in their last four League One games and had an emphatic 4-0 away win at York in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy which have al helped to boost that fragile confidence.
The Sky Blues have had to contend with injury and youth in their defence with the experienced Richard Wood suffering a broken nose on two separate occasions and a cheek injury following an elbow in the face at Swindon.
The injury situation has helped Nathan Cameron return to the side after his own long injury lay off and he has taken his opportunity to impress. Murphy does not think it is a coincidence that when Cameron was in defence his side kept three clean sheets in four games.
Competition for places is strong which has kept the players on their toes and has helped them to perform to the best of their ability. It is not just the back four where competition is fierce. The centre of defence is also open to competition and so far this season there have been six different combinations in 17 games. Murphy would prefer to see a more settled defence if at all possible as he is certain that stability, especially in defence is the key to success in football.
Murphy, who has played international football for the Republic of Ireland, has won promotion twice, knows what it takes to succeed at this level.
Speaking to the Coventry Telegraph's Andy Turner, Murphy said, "It’s always hard when defenders are chopping and changing. I was pleased to see Nathan back from his knee injury and, to be honest; they’d be my first two. I just prefer Woody and Nathan because they are just more natural with a left footer and a right footer, so they are just good defenders.
"I got promoted out of this division twice and both times we had the same centre half pairing virtually all season, so ideally you would have that. It makes a massive difference playing together week in, week out and getting to know each other’s game, so hopefully they’ll stay injury free and we can keep the same back four.
"The gaffer has brought in Jamie Reckord at left-back and he seems to favour Jordan Clarke on the right, so that’s good for me. It’s pleasing to have got a couple of clean sheets. The gaffer said last weekend that we could have played better but we have eight points from a possible 12 points in the league, so that’s a definite improvement.
"It was so important to beat Bournemouth to get our first home win, because your home form is vital. You want to win every one and I know you can’t always do that, but it was crucial that we got up and running and we have to carry that on. We have gone ahead in a lot of games and been pegged back, so it was important that we are hanging on now and seeing games out."