Robins refuses to criticise goalkeeper Marosi despite mistake

Posted Wednesday, February 26, 2020 by PA

Coventry boss Mark Robins refused to criticise goalkeeper Marko Marosi for the error that left his side chasing the game after the Sky Blues and Rotherham drew 1-1 in League One’s top-two tussle.

Marosi spilled a straightforward Daniel Barlaser corner to allow Freddie Ladapo to poke Rotherham ahead with his 13th league goal of the season.

But the Slovakian stopper made a superb save to prevent Ladapoi doubling the lead before Matty Godden’s second-half header earned Coventry a point.

Godden then missed a golden chance to win it in stoppage time as second-placed Coventry remain behind the table-topping Millers only on goal difference, but with a game in hand.

“I won’t be pointing the finger at my keeper, because he then went on to make an unbelievable save from Ladapo, who turned and really hit one. That was world class,” said Robins.

“Rotherham are a decent side and I was glad to get in at half-time to rejig things.

“I was really proud of the way we played second half and, in the end, with that header at the end, we were only a sliver away from winning it.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get that second goal. But that’s still 20 points from the last eight games. That’s absolutely phenomenal.

“You are looking at two points a game and if we can match that we won’t be far away.

“Our lads can play. It’s just about belief. And once they get that, the sky’s the limit.

“We will take the point and move on, we have another big game coming on Sunday against Sunderland and another great one to look forward to.”

Rotherham boss Paul Warne was happy with his side’s first-half display but conceded Coventry were the better team after the interval.

“Mixed is probably the best way to put it – I thought in the first half we were excellent, I just didn’t think they could contain us,” said Warne.

“But to concede that goal, a quick free-kick out wide and a cross in, is really disappointing and I thought in the end Coventry thoroughly deserved a draw – they were better than us second half.

“I’ve gone round the room and given some home truths. I want them to be great every game and I just didn’t think our performance levels second half were as good as I’d like.

“I don’t remember us having a chance in the second half and that’s my disappointment. At half-time, if you’d have said we would draw the game I would have been surprised.

“If you had asked both teams beforehand if we would have taken a point, we would have, no doubt, but both teams didn’t play like they would take a point, both teams tried to win the game.”