City secure sixth spot following Shrimps stalemate

Finally, our 48-year wait for a top six finish is over and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to say that! Whilst Saturday’s clash with Morecambe didn’t provide much in the way of entertainment, the scenes when the full-time whistle was sounded were excellent. As the Sky Blue Army celebrated clinching a play-off spot, the travelling band of Shrimps fans revelled in the fact their team had staved off relegation. Not a bad day all-round for everyone at the Ricoh Arena…

It would’ve taken a lot for us to have fallen out of the top seven come 5pm, but stranger things had happened in the past and, therefore, I was always wary. However, it was all plain sailing in the end and results even went our way too, meaning our game was somewhat of a drab affair. City did create the better of the few chances that presented themselves during the course of the afternoon, but we failed to beat Barry Roche in the Morecambe goal who remained a bystander for large parts.

With just six minutes played, it looked as if we would take the lead when Michael Doyle powered an effort towards goal from 25 yards. Some neat build-up between Jonson Clarke-Harris and Marc McNulty created the opportunity for the skipper, but the ‘keeper acrobatically tipped the ball over his crossbar. We then kept the ball for spells, but didn’t do too much with it, and any ounce of urgency fizzled out rather quickly to transform it into what looked like a training exercise.

Mark Robins and Adi Viveash did bark plenty of orders from the technical area throughout and it seemed as if they wanted more, but that never came. Clarke-Harris did spurn the best opening of the game on 39 minutes following some superb attacking play from Chris Stokes, but the striker could only find the gloves of Roche from close range. The Rotherham United loanee looked frustrated at times, but despite some heavy touches and some poor distribution, he looked a handful in glimpses.

The second half was a non-event to tell the truth, but the 15,000 or so City fans singing ‘Twist and Shout’ accompanied by Morecambe’s Mariachi Band was a highlight. At that point, both sets of supporters knew that things were looking good and they made the most of it. 39-year-old Kevin Ellison did strike the side-netting on 52 minutes whilst Tom Bayliss was denied at the other end, but the clock eventually ticked over to 90 minutes and that was that.

Given the fact it’s our highest league position since 1970, albeit in the lowest division of the English Football League, the subsequent pitch invasion was understandable as emotions reigned supreme. It’s quite a surreal feeling that we are going to be competing in the play-off schedule, and it hasn’t sunk in just yet. However, whilst it’s a decent achievement, we haven’t won anything yet. We need to secure that promotion, one which would be our first since 1967.

To do that, we will have to perform to the levels we displayed at Cheltenham Town last weekend. Notts County are our opponents in the semi-finals, and they will be just as up for this as we are. It certainly will be an intriguing contest over two legs, but I am confident that the players can take us a step closer. We convincingly beat the Magpies on home soil on the opening day, and we were unfortunate at Meadow Lane, so that proves there’s enough there.

As always, our supporters will be right behind the manager and his squad. We have been the 12th man this season, especially away from home, and now we need to provide our unwavering backing once more. I’m buzzing for next Saturday’s home leg and I’m praying I get a ticket, but if I don’t, I’ll be at home watching it with everything crossed. We’ve got this far – let’s make the most of this opportunity.

Inconsistency has been our worst enemy over these last 10 months, but fingers crossed with the home leg coming first, we can hit the ground running. Of course there will be nerves aplenty and people not knowing what to do in such an odd scenario for a Cov fan to be in, but let’s embrace it. Together, we can do this. No set of supporters are as desperate for something to cheer than us – hopefully we will be doing just that.

With Cyrille Regis watching down on the club on Saturday and a host of former players on the pitch for Legends’ Day, it was fitting to watch us grab sixth spot. Although many of our heroes of yesteryear played for us when we were higher up in the footballing pyramid, the current crop of players could become idols to the latest generation of fans. What incentive is as strong as that?

Play Up Sky Blues.