It’s crunch time for City

With the current Sky Bet League Two campaign reaching the business end, it is time for the Sky Blues to stand up and be counted in what could be a pivotal few weeks. Travelling to Mansfield isn’t the easiest task at any time, but they are in good form and they have scored 11 goals in their last three home fixtures.

Meanwhile, despite the valiant effort in the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round defeat to Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion, Mark Robins’ City are now on a four-game losing streak. Consequently, we are now five points from a play-off spot, and with a tricky run ahead, it really is now or never.

Although it is all doom and gloom at the moment, the performance (for the second half at least) against Brighton offers some hope that we can rekindle a bit of form at the most crucial of times. On numerous occasions throughout the season, we have come up trumps against some of the better outfits in this division when the pressure was on, but that has notched up significantly now – can the players handle it?

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With the expectation of getting promoted from supporters hanging over the club, it is imperative that we do not buckle and allow a season of such promise to dwindle away as I still get nightmares thinking about the 2015/16 campaign. Some would say that promotion this term could be make or break for City and I would agree to some extent because the longer you stick around in the fourth tier, the more difficult it becomes to get out. You only have to look at us in League One…

We have just got to stick behind Robins and the squad from now until May, with our fingers crossed that we have enough to at least make the top seven. Injuries to influential players have hampered our progress for sure, but on our day we are still a very capable side at this level – it is up to whoever is out on the pitch to prove that now.

These next three games, starting tomorrow at Mansfield, will be pivotal if we are to succeed. It’s then Wycombe Wanderers (2nd) and Lincoln City (8th) after that so we simply can’t afford any slip-ups. Six or seven points would be a decent return and one which would give us a fighting chance, but God forbid we fail to win any of these clashes, that would be catastrophic. I can’t even bear to think about the possibility.

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Our last meeting with Steve Evans’ Mansfield ended in defeat as Alex MacDonald conjured up a piece of magic in the 84th minute to outdo City at the Ricoh Arena, and having attended that fixture, the Stags did look impressive. On what was already a poor surface, they utilised the pace and power in which they possess to get the ball forward quickly for their attackers to feed off in wide areas.

Danny Rose netted the decisive strike in the Stags’ victory over Exeter City last weekend and he is a constant menace, but they have plenty of dangerous players in their armory, with the likes of Kane Hemmings and Lee Angol capable of tormenting defences. CJ Hamilton and Alfie Potter also provide added pace down the flanks, while their experienced back line are well equipped to stifle most attacks in this league.

Our own threats will have to perform to their maximum on the day if we are to leave Field Mill with anything, especially given the fact goals have been hard to come by for us all season. Marc McNulty is a potent finisher and he can have a huge say on proceedings, but it will be interesting to see how he fares next to Jonson Clarke-Harris if that is the strike force Robins opts for – there are certainly reasons to believe that the duo could build a solid partnership.

Michael Doyle’s potential return from injury could be a massive boost too as City have undoubtedly missed his tenacity in midfield, and especially against an opposition of Mansfield’s quality, his snarling bite wouldn’t go amiss. The sheer presence of the man steadies the ship somewhat and it would also allow our more creative players more freedom, meaning we can get more support up to the front men.

It will be intriguing to see our approach to the game, whether we look to play on the counter or cease the initiative, but fingers crossed we are left celebrating come 5pm on Saturday as opposed to banging our heads against the wall. Play Up Sky Blues!