FORMER Premier League midfielder Jeff Hendrick suggests Coventry City may find it easier as ‘Championship chasers’ following the club’s recent slump in form.
Hendrick made more than 400 appearances across the Premier League and Championship before hanging up his boots in October last year.
The former Republic of Ireland international admits it will be tough for Coventry to rediscover their early season form.
And Hendrick believes Coventry may improve their promotion chances if they are part of the chasing pack rather than leading the race.
Speaking to Fruity King, Hendrick said: “There’s no two ways about it. Coventry’s form really has dipped. They’re just not the team they were the first three, four months.
“They’re getting beaten by teams you wouldn’t have expected. They need to get over this sort of slump they’ve been on.
“I know they’re still in the top two, but to have had the points they did and now not be top of the table is crazy.
“For me, they need to get it right because if they don’t finish in the top two after falling that far, it’s so bad. How do you turn that around?
“Like I always say, a team who goes into the play-offs with real momentum does well and probably gets promoted.
“If you look at Coventry, they are doing the opposite. It’s going to be really tough for them to turn it around.
“I think they need to, whatever it is, nip it in the bud. They’ve got a great manager, he needs to potentially get back to a few clean sheets, then they can win games and get rolling again.
“There is enough time to stay in that top two and turn it around, but they really need to get going now, it’s February.
“Like I said, I think it’d be such a big blow. They won’t be able to overcome it, and the thought of not getting promoted after the situation and position they were in is a bit frightening.
“Sometimes it’s easier if you’re in that third or fourth position where you’re hunting.
“You know you’re going to be in the play-offs, so why not hunt, play with freedom, and try to get into that top two?
“But then, if you’re that team who’s in free fall, looking over your shoulder and seeing them closing in on you, crazy things happen, panic stations.
“And then you lose games that you shouldn’t be losing.”
