FOOTBALL: THE RETURN of Mark Robins has breathed a new lease of life into Ruben Lameiras who capped off another impressive performance by scoring the winning goal against Peterborough on Saturday.
The tricky Portuguese midfielder bagged his first league goal of the season and fifth in all competitions as the Sky Blues delayed relegation for another week.
Lameiras was limited to just a handful of substitute appearances in the league while former boss Russell Slade was in charge, but Robins seems impressed with the 22-year-old, whose confidence is growing game by game.
“The gaffer has come in and gave us all a bit more freedom and also gave me the opportunity to play a few games on the bounce,” said Lameiras. “My confidence is growing all the time.
“The boys were excellent, we dug in against Oxford, against Sheffield United I thought we were unlucky and missed a few good chances. Saturday was more of the same and we managed to get the right result.
“We are just looking at each game one at a time, taking every game as it comes and trying to pick up the win. We need to get our head down, win every game and see where that takes us.”
Lameiras is back playing in a central position under Robins as an attacking midfielder in behind Stuart Beavon.
And he was in the right place at the right time to score the only goal of the game against Peterborough with a neat left-footed finish.
He added: “I was in a good position, it was good play from Jodi to just set me up and all I’ve done is put my foot through it.
“I think this has always been my best position, I’m involved in the play or try to be as much as possible. Stuart Beavon is unreal to play with and then you’ve got George and Jodi either side.
“You get fed the ball all the time, and then they continue their run, giving me options when I do get on the ball as well.”