Stoke City manager Mark Robins was not surprised to see his former club, Coventry City, pushing for a Championship play-off spot. Even when he was dismissed in November, he believed the team had the potential to turn their season around. Robins’ sacking was met with controversy after Coventry endured a difficult start, losing seven of their first 14 league games. However, this was not unfamiliar territory for him. During his seven-and-a-half-year tenure, Coventry had often started slowly before finding form, as seen in their impressive runs to the 2023 Championship play-off final and the 2024 FA Cup semi-final. Acknowledging that results before his departure were disappointing, Robins remained confident that Coventry’s performances and underlying statistics pointed towards an upturn in fortunes. His instincts proved correct, though it is his successor, Frank Lampard, who has overseen the resurgence. Under Lampard, the Sky Blues have won eight of their last nine games, climbing to fifth place in the Championship standings. As Robins prepares to return to Coventry’s CBS Arena with his Stoke City side, he recognizes the excellent work Lampard has done but insists the team’s improvement was foreseeable. “They’re on a fantastic run and have secured some brilliant results,” Robins said. “There’s no denying what Frank Lampard has achieved, but the data already suggested this was likely to happen. Earlier in the season, things weren’t quite going Coventry’s way, but now they’re playing slightly differently, getting some luck, and showing their quality with talented players.” Despite his connection to Coventry, Robins’ main focus remains on Stoke City and their need to secure a positive result, especially with 3,000 away fans making the trip. He praised the passionate Stoke supporters for their role in motivating the team, referencing their impact in last week’s draw against Watford. As Coventry continues their push for promotion, Robins will be hoping his Stoke side can shift their own fortunes and climb away from the Championship’s relegation battle.