Source: FOOTYMAD
McSheffrey in positive mood ahead of Palace game
McSheffrey on past and future games Coventry City boss Aidy Boothroyd claims he doesn't believe in “must win” games, but the next game he has to prepare for, at home to Crystal Palace, is certainly one the fans think is. Coventry City have not won a league game in their last ten attempts and have slipped from fifth in the table down to 16th.Three points from a possible 30 is just not good enough for all concerned, players, management or the fans and everyone will be expecting a positive result tomorrow afternoon. The last time Coventry City won a game, ironically was against tomorrows opponents Crystal Palace, but that was in the FA Cup. Coventry born and bred striker Gary McSheffrey said, “It’s a massive game and a winnable game. We have played Palace twice already and played them off the park really but won one and lost one, so we know that we have got to win this one. We hope to score a couple of early goals and take the game to them." “We need a win because before you know it you are getting sucked in to the wrong end of the table. We are certainly in a dog fight now and we need to roll our sleeves up and just get our first win on the board." “If you go ten without a win you have to wake up and realise that we have got to start winning and winning fast because as the weeks go by there are less games to play. It’s not panic stations but it’s important we turn things round.” McSheffrey was dropped to the bench for last weeks trip to Leeds, but he hopes to start the game tomorrow. Looking back on the 1-0 defeat to Leeds, McSheffrey said, “It was disappointing because we had a few opportunities and a couple of half chances to get a goal but, yet again, we have failed to score." “Leeds are dangerous and always nick a goal, a bit like ourselves earlier in the season when we were always confident we would keep a clean sheet and win a game." “Luciano Becchio missed a couple of sitters in the first half after he has been putting them away this season. It was a strange one because although they had the better chances I think it was an even contest in open play." “Some parts of our game were decent and maybe it was just a case of switching off again and Johnny Howson got in at the far post and put it on a plate for Davide Somma, so that was a good goal from their point of view but disappointing from ours because it was a bit sloppy.” Speaking about the poor game that defender Jordan Clarke had at Elland Road, McSheffrey had sympathy and support for his team mate,offering advice that perhaps Clarke ought to copy Leeds defender Alex Bruce after a mistake by Clarke allowed Max Gradel to initiated the move that led to the winning goal He said, “Max is a good player and Jordan will learn from that. With some players you have got to stamp your authority early and once Jordan fouled him and got a yellow card he was out of the game for the last ten minutes." “When I went on within a minute Alex Bruce nailed me because they just know that with some types of players you have to put them out of the game. I think had Jordan showed him a bit less respect and time on the ball it would have been better, but it is important that he doesn’t beat himself up about it and learn from it because Max has done that to many a full-back this season.” McSheffrey was disappointed to have been dropped to the bench on his return to the club where he spent time on loan last season, but he is determined to get back into the starting line up. The last time McSheffrey was dropped he came back stronger and scored three times in as many games and is now hoping to emulate that feat. “The manager made a decision and I get on with it,” said McSheffrey and when asked if being dropped made him even more determined, he admitted, “Yes, of course. I thought Saturday would have suited me because we went with three up top and it was a bit more of an attacking formation." “I would have loved to have started going back to Leeds and to have tried to stamp some sort of authority on the game, but it is just one of those things and I have just got to work hard to get back in the team and make sure the manager doesn’t drop me again.” Commenting on the hostile reception he received from the Elland Road faithful he said, “I suppose I was expecting it but it is a decent club and good fans. When things are going well they are great fans and I have always said that so I don’t really know why they were booing me to be honest.” Speculating on what the future holds for Coventry City, McSheffrey thinks they are lacking a bit of luck and missing key players. He said, “We have played well over the last few weeks but we have been a bit short in midfield and our full-backs haven’t had a lot of games, so they are trying to get match fit so we have been a bit short, but we can’t moan about that and that’s what our squad is for.”
