Slade Pleased For Players And Supporters

Last updated : 25 January 2017 By CNS Sport
Coventry City manager Russell Slade was pleased for his players and the City supporters after the Sky Blues beat Swansea City on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
 
Slade told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire: “I’m pleased for the players because they kept going – it’s been a while since they’ve been behind in a game and come back to win – and pleased for the supporters because we’re a game away from that big stadium now.
 
Caption: Coventry Citys Dion Kelly-Evans leads their penalty shoot out celebrations | Headline:  Swansea City U21 v Coventry City - Checkatrade Trophy - Quater-Final - Liberty Stadium
 
“A home draw would be terrific but whoever it is we’ve got to do our job. But what we’ve got to do now is put it away in a box and concentrate on the league situation starting at Northampton on Saturday.

“The good thing is that we’ve got bodies to come back in. We’re hoping that Stuart Beavon will train on Thursday and we’ve got Oli McBurnie to come in.

“We were a bit restricted in terms of our firepower tonight so we knew it would be a tough task against a very good side – a lot of their boys are internationals and Oli McBurnie is a sought-after striker.

“We made mistakes throughout the game but we kept going and showed a decent attitude and in my opinion deservedly got the equaliser.

“The first half was a very technical game, waiting for each other to make mistakes, but it became more of a cup tie in the second half. We forced them into a few mistakes but we weren’t productive enough – I was disappointed we didn’t make more of our pressure in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

“Penalty shoot-outs are always hard – the last one I remember was the play-off final against Rotherham when were 2-1 up and got beaten. But to be fair to the lads they took their penalties really smartly and Reice Charles-Cook made two great saves for us.”

 

Picture copyright of the Press Association. Credit: David Davies/EMPICS Sport