Mark Robins has provided insight into his decision to make a change in the Coventry City goalkeeping position, opting to replace the regular starter, Ben Wilson, with summer acquisition Brad Collins for the recent match against Stoke at the CBS Arena.
Despite Wilson’s impressive track record, including 22 clean sheets, a spot in the EFL Team of the Season, and the Golden Glove award last season, the manager decided to break his 61-game league streak by placing Collins, a former Chelsea prospect signed from Barnsley, in the starting lineup.
Collins, 26, marked his Championship debut for the club with a clean sheet in a goalless draw against Stoke. Robins clarified that the motive behind the change was to ease the pressure on Wilson, acknowledging his past contributions and expressing confidence in his future performances. The manager emphasized the importance of healthy competition within the squad, stating that players must fight for their positions.
When asked about Wilson’s reaction to the decision, Robins mentioned that the goalkeeper responded positively, highlighting the necessity of competition to maintain a dynamic and motivated squad. The manager stressed the importance of providing players with a clear pathway to playing time and praised Collins for his performance, noting a key save and overall solid execution.
Robins acknowledged that Collins didn’t put a foot wrong during the match, pointing out a confident save and highlighting the keeper’s decision-making in a one-on-one situation. Despite Collins’ limited game time with the team, the manager expressed satisfaction with his performance and credited him for achieving a clean sheet in his debut appearance.
