DON Goodman questioned the strength of Coventry City’s defence in the club’s quest to achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundit Goodman previously backed the Sky Blues to return to the top flight and suggested only a sudden collapse in form would prevent Frank Lampard’s side from achieving promotion.
And with Coventry no longer at the top of the Championship table, Goodman insists the Sky Blues must shore up at the back if they want to secure a dream return to the Premier League next season.
Speaking to NewBettingSites, Goodman said: “My concerns about Coventry have never been about whether they can score goals. My concern has always been defensively.
“They have essentially the same defence as last season, when they conceded 58 goals, with the exception of a new goalkeeper. I was a little surprised by that.
“They brought in a couple of defenders in the summer, Luke Woolfenden and of course Kaine Kesler-Hayden, because they thought Milan van Ewijk was leaving, but neither has been able to break into the team.
“So in essence, apart from the goalkeeper, it’s the same back four, the same midfielders and it was the same forwards until this January window, when Romain Esse came in.
“So the reality is, it’s the same Coventry team as last season, albeit with an upgraded goalkeeper.
“That was a concern coming into the season, it was alleviated in the early part of the season but now it’s a concern again.
“So to analyse that statistically, after 12 games, my biggest surprise about Coventry was that they’d only conceded nine goals and kept six clean sheets with the same back four.
“They were defending really well. But when you look at the last 17 games, they’ve kept just three clean sheets in that period and conceded goals at a faster rate.
“When you look at the goals they’re giving up, they’ve made things very difficult for themselves.
“I’m not saying it’s a poor defence, but when you compare it to Burnley last season, who conceded 16 goals, and Leeds last season, who conceded 30, Coventry have already conceded 35, and we’re only 31 games in.
“That’s a massive difference there. Teams that win automatic promotion usually have one of the best defensive records in the league.
“The rare exception was Ipswich a couple of seasons ago, when they conceded over 50 goals. It was the first time in years that a team finished in the top two with a defensive record like that.
“Coventry are going to have to shore things up and find a way. At this stage, I’m less certain than I was a month ago because the gap has gone.
“Middlesbrough are a genuine threat, and the worry for Coventry is that Ipswich at home look unbelievable. The hope for Coventry is that Ipswich’s away form, like their own, continues to be a little bit sketchy.
“It’s going to be fascinating to watch these next few games.”
