I’ll start with a part of our team which all too often goes under the radar – the defence. After looking a bit shaky earlier in the season, our back four is now pretty solid.
Apart from in the Sheffield United defeat, they really have tightened up. Only Stoke have conceded fewer goals in the division, and we’re letting in less than a goal a game.
On Saturday, we restricted Derby to a single shot on target, and that was the penalty. This was despite them having plenty of the ball and creating some threatening situations.
Terry’s been impressed with skipper Dara O’Shea (Image: Ross Halls)
The introduction of Cedric Kipre has undoubtedly improved things, and his centre-back partner Dara O’Shea seems to have eliminated his crazy moments when he was presenting the opposition with the ball (fingers crossed!)
At the other end of the pitch, we still miss too many chances. Did anyone mention our lack of a goalscoring centre-forward? Sadly, the opportunity to bring one in has gone and we will have to manage with what we’ve got.
Once again, we failed to put the game to bed and it almost bit us on the backside when Derby equalised. Thank goodness for our excellent winning goal.
It really was a marvellous moment. The superb Anis Mehmeti hung on to the ball against overwhelming odds, slid it through to Kasey McAteer, who delivered a terrific cross, and Leif Davis finished expertly with his head.
Kasey McAteer got his first assist of the season for the winner at Derby (Image: Ross Halls)
It was really good to see McAteer provide the all-important assist. Maybe this is the confidence boost he so obviously needs. Kieran McKenna clearly believes in him. Let’s hope that faith is justified.
What a signing Mehmeti looks. He’s really busy, popping up all over the pitch, with quick feet and an eye for a killer pass. If our finishing was more clinical he would already have a few assists. His arrival could be crucial in our promotion challenge.
Just one question: What will happen when Marcelino Núñez returns from injury? To me, it looks as though Mehmeti plays in the same position as Núñez.
Will we end up with a Jack Clarke/Jaden Philogene situation, with two top quality players rotating minutes on the pitch in the same position? I suppose that’s quite a luxury!
Anis Mehmeti has looked superb since arriving in Suffolk (Image: Ross Halls)
Back to the centre-forward situation. With no new number nine coming through the door, we now have to rely on the misfiring George Hirst and Ivan Azon, and maybe Chuba Akpom.
All of them are horrendously short of confidence, so what does McKenna do to solve the problem? At the moment, he seems to be rotating them, meaning they’re all either being replaced after an hour or coming on for the last 30 minutes.
For me, it would be better to give one of them a run as our lone striker, hoping a goal or two arrives – maybe a tap-in from a yard – and they build confidence that way.
Ivan Azon has only scored twice this season – Terry wants to see one of Town’s strikers given an extended run as the starter (Image: Ross Halls)
At the moment, we’re relying on goals from other parts of the team – or from very generous former Town players like Lewis Travis!
Of course, one of our potential goal scorers, Sammie Szmodics, has left the club to join Derby on loan. McKenna’s comments about the reasons for his departure have led to a great deal of speculation.
Was there a behind the scenes bust-up between player and manager? Who knows! One thing looks pretty certain – we’ll never see Szmodics pulling on a Town shirt again.
All in all, it was a pretty underwhelming stay for the former Championship golden boot winner, not helped by injuries and McKenna apparently not really deciding where to play Szmodics.
Sammie Szmodics doesn’t look to have a future at Town (Image: Ross Halls)
So, the league table looks really encouraging. Coventry’s shaky spell continues, and they suddenly look very catchable. Their next league game is against Middlesbrough.
Our run of away games continues with a long FA Cup trip to Wrexham on Friday night.
Being blunt, I’m not bothered about the cup. We obviously have only one clear focus this season. Promotion is all that matters.
I don’t want us risking further injuries to key players. It’s time for some of the fringe players to show what they can do.