Barnsley v Coventry City View From T'Other Side

Last updated : 26 October 2006 By Rob Miles (barnsley Boy)

After a strong finish to the 2005-2006 season where Coventry nearly gate-crashed the play-offs, are you expecting a strong promotion push this time around?

Well our Chairman and Local MP is, having demanded a sixth place finish and the expectation level has been raised through the roof. The key to getting out of this division is consistency and when that has been achieved only then can City look towards the higher echelons of the league.

Its been a pretty decent start for the Sky Blues this season, especially at home, are you happy with the start made?

If City's away form matched our home form, then we'd have no problems. Our current placing of tenth is about where I expected us to be at this time of the season.

Micky Adams has always struck me as a manager with a good footballing brain, what has he improved most since taking over?

The home form. We left Highfield Road not having lost a home game for eight matches and have continued with this at the Arena. If he could sort out our erratic away form then he would be a genius!

The Ricoh Arena? Sounds and looks impressive, is it beginning to feel like home now?

It's exactly like when you move house. It takes time to settle at your new abode and to get use to the new surroundings. Slowly but surely it's starting to feel like home. Like every new house or building there is still loads to do like a train station and better parking but in time these will get sorted and the sooner City find the money to become part owners of the Arena rather than tenants the better

Barnsley desperately need the points this weekend who in the Coventry side should we be most wary of? Stern John looks like trouble!

Stern John is a natural goalscorer and on his day can be deadly. Leon McKenzie is also very difficult to defend against.

Who do you believe are Barnsley's Dangermen?

Cov kid Danny Nardiello if he plays will certainly be a major threat. He's a player I would have loved to see at Coventry and as he proved last season he is always likely to score.

Still early days but where do you see both teams finishing in May?

Andy Ritchie has a good enough squad to ensure Barnsley are a Championship side next season. To be honest, your first season in any division that you have been promoted into is all about consolidation and as long as you stay up then its job done and time to build for the next campaign.

As for Coventry City, I predicted tenth in what is a very open division with some strong clubs such as Birmingham and West Brom, so if we finish any higher than that I'll be happy.

And finally a prediction for Saturday?

I've not see the Sky Blues win at Oakwell, so a win would be great but if a draw is on offer I'll take it.

For more information on Coventry City's season click here