Coleman Wants Christmas Cheer

Last updated : 18 December 2008 By Covsupport News Service

"Coventry City manager Chris Coleman is looking for victories over the Christmas period to lift the Sky Blues

City have not won at home in the last six matches and go into the Saturday's game looking for a win before travelling to Swansea City on Boxing Day then facing Sheffield Wednesday at home on December 28th.

"I think we are looking at these next three games as a block and that's the Christmas period out of the way," said Coleman to the CT's Andy Turner.

"You can look at it both ways, we are at home to Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday and away to Swansea and, judging by our form, would it be better to have two away and one at home?

"But we have got to get a win at home. I have harped on about it for too long but we do need to turn the corner at the Ricoh because the quicker we do that then maybe, slowly, in the second half of the season we can turn it into a fortress.

"We had it at the start of the season and we were strong at the end of last season at home, and we have got to do that again because if you do that and then nick the odd little win away then everything looks after itself.

"But we have struggled at the Ricoh and we haven't coped with it in the way I thought we would.

"But it is only us who can change that and three points could change everything. We can then break that mental block and it would set us up for the two Christmas fixtures, putting us past that 30-point mark and jump above Ipswich into 13th or possibly even 12th if Plymouth lose, and then we are sitting where we want to be, so it is an important game for us."

He added: "Ipswich have been a bit inconsistent like us.

"They have been strong at home, although they lost their last one, but they beat Bristol City 3-1 before that, off the back of losing at Norwich.

"They are a good footballing team who can be anything or nothing, which is this league to be honest.

"You have got a chance against anyone and also a chance to lose against anyone, of course.

"It is an exciting but unforgiving league, and very frustrating because most games you play there is not a lot in it, so this will be a big three points for us if we get them on Saturday."