Mark Robins set for Huddersfield job

Mark Robins is expected to be named as Huddersfield Town boss today, taking charge of his first game against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fifth round tie on Sunday.The former Manchester United striker was given permission by League One Coventry City to talk to the Championship strugglers Huddersfield.The Terriers have been without a manager since Simon Grayson was sacked at the end of January, following a run of 12 matches without a win.Since Grayson's departure, Mark Lillis has been in caretaker charge, guiding the side to a win and a draw in the league, and into the fifth round of the FA Cup. Robins has only been at Coventry since September 9, but in that time has led them out of the League One relegation zone and into play-off contention. The Sky Blues rejected an initial approach from the Terriers, but the former Rotherham and Barnsley boss made it clear he was interested in talking to the Championship side. Robins has been in demand, and it was believed that Doncaster Rovers and Blackpool were keen on appointing him as their manager, with Coventry stating that "more than one club" had shown an interest in the 43-year-old. Talks are believed to be taking place immediately but Sky Blues chief executive Tim Fisher is hopeful of keeping Robins. Fisher said: "We are just hoping that when he weighs up his options and opportunities, he will see the great progress to date and the support he has from fans and management alike, coupled with the potential in Coventry, and decide to stay."

Middlesbrough Bid £1M for Coentry's Lukas Jutkiewicz

Middlesbrough have made a £1million-plus bid for Lukas Jutkiewicz.Hard-up Sky Blues are already hoping to cash in on Ben Turner, who is wanted by Cardiff, before Wednesday night’s transfer window closes.And it remains to be seen if the club will resist such an offer for their highest-profile striker.The sale of the 22-year-old centre forward would certainly be a hammer blow to manager Andy Thorn, who has been desperately trying to draft in a replacement goal scorer for Marlon King all summer without success, and would leave him next to no time to recruit replacements.Cardiff have been trying to offload Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin in a cash-plus-player deal – believed to be worth £750,000 – for Turner, although the big target man doesn’t seem to readily fit in with Thorn’s football philosophy.The City boss is also hoping the club shun any advances for Jutkiewicz who is the scorer of the Sky Blues' only two Championship goals so far this season, including the second half equaliser that earned a confidence-boosting point at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.But the forward would surely be keen on a move that would not only see him exchange Coventry’s survival battle for Boro’s promotion drive but earn him a hefty pay rise.Earlier this month, when Burnley expressed an interest, he declared: “It was nice to hear that they had put in an offer."It massages the ego a bit but I’ve been happy enough here and it’s up to Coventry to decide whether they want to sell me or not.“I’m Coventry’s player and they deemed that the bid put in was not acceptable to how they value me.”

Although already aware of his ability, Jutkiewicz will no doubt have caught Tony Mowbray’s eye when the Boro boss ran the rule over Coventry in their 0-0 draw with Watford at the Ricoh last week when the former Everton forward put in a typically industrious performance.

And if he needed further evidence of his ability, that was confirmed on Saturday when he headed home the goal to deny the manager’s side the full three points to take them to the top of the table.

Mowbray sat in front of reporters after the game and was asked if he is trying to do any business in the transfer market before the window closes on Wednesday.

The former Celtic and West Brom manager admitted that he is hoping to strengthen his forward line – where he currently only has seven-goal Marvin Emnes fit – with a couple of strikers, revealing that the club were “well down the line,” on a couple of deals, although there was no hint that Jutkiewicz was one of them.

Birmingham and Cardiff chase Ben Turner

Birmingham could be set to fight it out with Cardiff over the capture of Coventry defender Ben Turner ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline.Turner was Coventry's stand-out performer over the opening months of last season before having to undergo a knee ligament operation which has sidelined him ever since.The Birmingham-born 23-year-old is now close to making his long-awaited return after the serious injury, but it could be that it does not come in the sky blue of Coventry.Cardiff are already in discussions with the cash-strapped club, with Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay telling the Western Mail: "It is something we are trying to get done and we are in talks with Coventry."The Welsh outfit have reportedly offered £750,000 as well as striker Jon Parkin in exchange for Turner, but their interest may well be rivalled by that of Birmingham, who have been monitoring the highly-rated centre-back for some time.Scott Dann appears likely to depart St Andrew's before Wednesday's deadline and some of the money gained would be ploughed back into a move for Turner, who came through the ranks at Coventry.

Match Report: Middlesborough 1 Coventry 1

A Lukas Jutkiewicz header 14 minutes from time rescued a 1-1 draw for Coventry against Middlesbrough at the Riverside.The Sky Blues remain winless this season but will be buoyed by the result against early pacesetters Boro.Marvin Emnes' first-half strike looked enough to give the home side all three points and six consecutive victories for the first time since 1995.Coventry defender Chris Hussey tried to clear but could only divert the ball into the path of the Dutchman, who finished clinically for his seventh goal of the season.But Jutkiewicz levelled when Hussey's dangerous cross landed at the feet of Roy O'Donovan. His shot was parried by Carl Ikeme but the ball fell to Jutkiewicz who headed the rebound in off the underside of the crossbar.Boro substitute Faris Haroun missed a golden chance to score the winner in the final seconds. He rose high and cannoned a header against the crossbar.

Match Report: Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Coventry

Crystal Palace struck twice in injury time to secure a dramatic victory over Coventry at Selhurst Park.
The Sky Blues, who are still searching for their first point of the season, grabbed the lead in 49th minute through Lukas Jutkiewicz.But Palace pulled level when Sean Scannell turned in a rebound after Wilfried Zaha's shot was saved.And in the fifth minute of injury time, Jermaine Easter hit his first of the season to steal all three points.In a dour opening 45 minutes, neither side had a shot on target and Coventry striker Gary McSheffrey was forced off with an injury in the 19th minute.Jutkiewicz broke the deadlock early the second half when Cyrus Christie's cross ricocheted off Palace defender Peter Ramage for the former Everton man to challenge Julian Speroni in the air, and the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line.Palace almost hit back immediately but Scannell was denied by Coventry keeper Joe Murphy and substitute Zaha dragged a shot from the edge of the area wide.Roy O'Donovan and Paddy McCarthy saw efforts fly over the crossbar for the home side before Jutkiewicz was twice denied a second by saves from Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.
Palace poured forward in search of the equaliser and Zaha was again just off target with a thumping drive.
But their luck changed in the final minute when Zaha's 20-yard shot was kept out by Murphy but Scannell pounced on to the bouncing rebound to send a spectacular scissor kick into the bottom corner.Then in the fifth minute of time added on Easter latched on to another parry from Murphy, again from a Zaha effort, and converted from close range to complete an unlikely turnaround.

Match Report:Birmingham 1 Coventry 0

Keith Fahey’s lone strike 18 minutes from time earned Birmingham their first win of the season.The Republic of Ireland smashed home substitute Adam Rooney’s low cross, just seconds after the striker had struck the post with a well-placed header.The goal also owed much to manager Chris Hughton’s own decision-making, as it came just three minutes after Rooney replaced Chris Wood up front.The Blues boss only made one change from last Saturday’s opening day defeat to Derby County, with Albion loanee Wood handed his first start for Blues at Rooney’s expense, and it paid off with his first win in charge.Hughton kept faith with the same 4-5-1 formation Blues started with at Pride Park.On the bench, new signing Jonathan Spector replaced Nathan Redmond while Scott Dann was named as a substitute for the second game running.Notable absences for Blues were Marlon King, Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome all still injured.For the visitors, former Blues favourite Gary McSheffrey made the starting line-up for Coventry and received a warm reception in appreciation for his four year stint at St Andrew’s from 2006 to 2010.Blues created a good chance just two minutes in, when Burke and Carr combined well down the right wing.Carr’s cross was tucked into Morgaro Gomis’ path by Wood and only a last ditch tackle prevented him opening the scoring from deep inside the box.At the other end, Blues had Curtis Davies to thank for heroically blocking Lukas Jutkiewicz’s effort, after the ball had fallen invitingly from Sammy Clingan’s right wing corner.Blues dominated the early possession but Jutkiewicz missed a golden opportunity with 19 minutes gone, firing wide of the left hand post.Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill then showed his agility to tip away Sammy Clingan’s well-struck long-range free-kick, which appeared to be creeping into the bottom right hand corner, half an hour in.McSheffrey was next to test Myhill from distance but the Wales international acrobatically turned the winger’s 30-yard effort behind for a corner five minutes before the break.Fahey won a corner in stoppage time when his own long-range effort was deflected wide by Clingan, but neither side could feel aggrieved by the blank score sheet at half time.But Blues improved after the break and Beausejour fired wide from Stephen Carr’s cross, five minutes after the re-start.Wood should have opened the scoring barely 90 seconds later, but could only Beausejour’s low left-wing cross over the bar from less than six yards out.Clingan did well to block Burke’s effort from Carr’s cutback and Gomis forced a corner, when his 25-yard drive was turned behind from distance by Murphy, as the home side increased the pressure.Wood then miscued Gomis’ cutback, albeit under pressure, with just over 25 minutes remaining, but McSheffrey fizzed a curling drive just over at the other end of the pitch.
With the game headed for a stalemate, Rooney replaced Wood and it worked almost immediately.Rooney headed Ridgewell’s deep cross against the post, but managed to turn the rebound into Fahey’s path for the opening goal 18 minutes from time.The Irishman then pulled a poor attempt well wide 12 minutes from time, as Blues pushed forward in a bid to rubber stamp victory.Steven Caldwell nodded Carr’s cross over the bat with 10 minutes remaining, after McSheffrey’s foul on the edge of the box.Blues suffered a late scare when Jutkiewicz headed over from a good position with two minutes left from Clingan’s corner, but they held on for a vital win.

Lowe Hits Double As Bury Sink Coventry

Ryan Lowe struck twice in the final 15 minutes to sink Coventry and send Bury into the Carling Cup second round with a 3-1 win.The Sky Blues led in the 26th minute when David Bell crossed from the right flank and Roy O'Donovan headed home from six yards.Bury lost midfielder Steven Schumacher to injury in the 31st minute but they were level seven minutes later when Andy Bishop latched onto a pass from Lowe and fired home right-footed from six yards.O'Donovan almost grabbed his second in the 43rd minute when he tried his luck from distance and saw his effort well saved from Cameron Belford.Bury began the second with aggression and purpose and almost led six minutes after the restart. Mike Jones saw his 25-yard shot tipped over by Joe Murphy and then Bishop headed wastefully wide from just six yards out.However, Lowe put the Shakers ahead in the 75th minute when he rifled home Damien Mozika's pass and then added his second in the 88th minute when he again combined with Mozika to drill home from close range.

Match Report:Coventry 0 Leicester City 1

Leicester may have had a glamorous pre-season – but it has clearly taught them grit.The international connections of Sven Goran Eriksson saw the Foxes take on a trio of high-profile European sides – but it was a good, old-fashioned Championship performance which earned them their first three points of the season.There was nothing crude about the play – hosts and visitors both knocked the ball about well – but Leicester had to show some doggedness to eke out the victory.They suffered as Darius Vassell was red carded after only 11 minutes when he went for a loose ball and caught Richard Keogh.That gave Coventry the upper hand but they failed to make it count and were reduced to 10 men when Carl Baker rashly dived in on Richie Wellens.Leicester hit the post before the interval and soon after the break they sealed the points through a first Championship goal from Lee Peltier, who joined them in the summer from Huddersfield.
Wellens, who is all too familiar with the Championship, believes the side will have to gel from the off to justify their tag as promotion certainties.He said: “We played against some top teams, so our shape was always going to be good. We have played Real Madrid, Valencia and Real Majorca.They have had the majority of the ball in those games so our pre-season has largely been made up of running and that showed!“It was the first time that this side had played together so you would expect it to take some bedding in but there is no time for that. We have to hit the ground running so we can get up there and stay up there.“We were bottom after nine games and struggling, whereas QPR won their first seven and were up and away from that point on. That gives you some room to have not such a good spell, which is almost inevitable.“We have a massive squad and if those in the team don’t do well, I am sure he will bring others in.”Coventry, on the other hand, have been tipped for the drop after losing three key players in the summer, but Wellens was impressed by the new style introduced by manager Andy Thorn.He added: “I did not think it was a typical Championship game at all. Coventry got the ball down and played some really good football.“Their manager has come in, changed the way they play and I thought they looked a very good team.“They lacked a cutting edge but the lad Lukas Jutkiewicz did well for them and caused problems.“I thought we were always in control, we defended well, kept our shape and created a few chances.”Certainly Thorn has brought a new style to the Sky Blues after the axing of Aidy Boothroyd with 10 games to go last season.But the departure of leading scorer Marlon King and a pre- season injury to Freddy Eastwood, has left them short in front of goal.That, and Baker’s silly challenge, made it an uphill struggle they could not quite overcome.Skipper Sammy Clingan said: “When we both had 11 men, I thought we were on top for the majority. They had a man sent off and I felt we were in control.“Leicester are the team who have been spending the most money. They are the Manchester City of the Championship but there was not much between us.“We moved the ball well from side to side, got into the box and created some chances, but there was a lack of concentration from our player to get sent off because the referee is always likely to even it up in those circumstances.“It was not in an area where the challenges needed to be made and it was a bit of stupidity, but you learn from these mistakes and move on.“I am sure that Carl will learn from it. I think their player made the most of it, but he told me that Carl did catch him.

“You see sendings-off for less than both of those challenges, but the referee had made his decision and you have to stick at it.“We have Lukas and Gary McSheffrey there and hopefully they can combine well together.
“We lost Kingy, who was good in front of goal but him going is not the be all and end all and we had to move on.”