Source: FOOTYMAD
Scunthorpe manager's view of Coventry City
Ian Barraclough speaks of his good friend Aidy and Coventry City Aidy Boothroyd takes his Coventry City side to Scunthorpe on Saturday where he will meet up with one of his old friends Ian Barraclough, who is in charge of Scunthorpe. The two managers and Barraclough's assistant Steve Parkin all played together at Mansfield Town and have remained the best of friends ever since, but all friendship will be put aside until after the game as the two sides go head to head. In an interview with The Iron Player Barraclough, who fully expects Coventry will be one of the teams pushing for a top six finish, spoke about his friend Aidy Boothroyd and the team he now manages Coventry City. "We know all about what Coventry will bring here.They are big, strong players who will get the ball into the box from all angles.They will compete every second ball and will be a test for anybody in this division if you allow them to play their game and don't match them." "That's something we've concentrated on and hopefully we're ready for whatever they throw at us. Aidy has got his own people in and is playing a different style of football to what Coventry people are used to, but it's been effective and they've got decent results." "They're in the pack behind the play-off spots, which will suit Aidy and he will assess where he is in January. If he needs more players to make that assault on the play-offs then he will do that." "He's been backed by his chairman and he's slowly but surely instilling his way of thinking into the club. They've got a strong squad with numerous options." "Clive Platt is somebody I played with at Notts County and he's done well since he signed for Coventry, coupled with Marlon King, who is a Premier League quality player. He hasn't found the target yet but I'm sure it won't be too long." "Garry McSheffrey and Carl Baker on the wings are good players and they are backed up by good experience in Lee Carsley and Michael Doyle in the midfield. They're a strong squad and will make things difficult for us." Scunthorpe have a poor home record this season, but Barraclough is working hard to remove any doubts from his players minds and is trying to instill some confidence into his squad as they prepare to take on Coventry City He added, "We've just concentrated on Coventry, what style of play they will bring and how they will go and do it. We're not taking anything away from the fact that we can score goals home or away. We've just got to make sure we score more than they do." "I'd like us to keep a clean sheet ideally, then we only have to score one. Sounds simple doesn't it but that's the game of football."
