Mark Robins says he has to “get to the bottom” of why one or two of his Coventry City players showed a “lack” of commitment in the 2-1 home defeat by Swansea.
The Sky Blues boss revealed after the match at the CBS Arena that something is “not quite right” with an “individual or two,” which he admits simply “doesn’t make sense.”
Although reluctant to name names, the fact that he took off Haji Wright at half-time suggests he wasn’t particularly happy with the USA international.
“One or two are looking like they are really struggling all of a sudden, and that doesn’t make sense,” said the manager.
“It’s not like us and it is one of those things where I can’t just put it down to experience and move on. There are things that with one or two individuals that clearly weren’t quite right. So we have got to get to the bottom of that.
“First and foremost, as an athlete, as a football player, a sportsman, you have to show that commitment. You really have to show that commitment, and it was lacking in some areas today. And that cannot be to do with the physical side of it. It’s not the physical side of it because you can still have a go even if you are half a yard slow or not getting there.
“But not to move, to be frozen and to be really out of the game, and I am sort of trying not to embarrass people at the moment because there’s clearly something not quite right. But I have got to get to the bottom of something with an individual or two.”
Asked about the half-time substitution when Wright was withdrawn and replaced by Ephron Mason-Clark, whether it was tactical or due to an injury, Robins explained: “It was tactical. Really, I needed more, I needed more, both sides really.
“Out of possession we didn’t get it right. We took the easy option and if you’re getting pinned in by two players and you don’t or can’t release, or don’t have the desire to go and release, then there’s an issue and it causes a problem and we end up getting no pressure on the ball. And then they’re allowed to do what they want to do.”
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