Coventry City notebook: Transfer option emerges as Maidstone get marching

With a convincing win at Stoke, Coventry City kept hold of a play-off spot in the Championship’s top six. Ellis Simms’ game-winning goal at the bet365 Stadium ensured that Sky Blues secured an impressive seven points from three tough games in quick succession. Prior to this, they had defeated Plymouth in the final minute of play to earn a hard-fought point in Devon. The previous Sunday, they had defeated Millwall.

In order to give his players a chance to rest and heal, Mark Robins has given them a few days off. They will return to practice this week to get ready for Friday’s league match against Preston, which is scheduled three days before to Monday’s crucial FA Cup matchup with Maidstone United.

Here we take a look at what’s going on in and around the club in Andy Turner’s weekly notebook.

Simms in the groove

Ellis Simms has scored six goals this season, and he scored his third in six games over the weekend to keep up his goal scoring form. The 23-year-old, who also scored in the 2-2 midweek draw at Plymouth, stated: “As a striker, I want to score goals for myself.” Therefore, you may experience a little confidence loss when the ball is not dropping for you or not quite going in.

All you can do is continue to put in a lot of effort in your training. I scored against Plymouth and today, so maybe I can keep up the momentum. The team’s goal scoring is what matters most, and since goals have been coming from the left, right, and number 10 positions, there hasn’t been any pressure.

He went on, “It’s nice.” Just to add to the objectives, three out of six isn’t a bad return, so all I want to do is keep improving, keep pushing myself, and hopefully keep going.

Ephron watch

January signature After selling the 24-year-old to the Sky Blues and promptly loaning him back, Peterborough lost their fourth consecutive League One match when Ephron Mason-Clark returned from injury. The dynamic winger was given a score of seven in the Peterborough Telegraph’s player ratings after playing the entire ninety minutes in the 2-1 home loss to Blackpool. The assessment read, “Stood up to the usual buffeting from opposition defenders as he tried to punch a hole in the Blackpool rearguard.” He creates issues when he passes the ball on rapidly. Teams are aware of his passion for shooting and cutting inside.

Marco’s uncertain future

Coventry City development midfielder Marco Rus has joined Romanian top flight side FC Universitatea Cluj on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.

The 21-year-old, who started out at Yeovil and signed for the Sky Blues after being released by Southampton in the summer of 2021, often caught the eye in City’s under-21s, but is yet to break through into the first team.

Rus agreed a new two-year-deal last June, which extended his stay at City until the summer of 2025. However, the player has returned to his home town club in Romania and, according to Cluj, could become a permanent fixture at the end of the season.

A statement read: “Welcome, Marco Rus! Our club reached an agreement with Marco Rus. The player originally from Cluj comes on loan, with the option of a permanent transfer in the summer, from Coventry City, a team in 6th place in the Championship, the second league in England.”

Cluj are one point behind FC Hermannstadt, who occupy the final place in the play-off places, with five games remaining in the SuperLiga.

Maidstone get clear run

Maidstone are on the march, with the non-league club having sold out their full allocation of 4,800 tickets for Monday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues, of course, have switched Saturday’s league fixture against Preston North End to Friday night in order to give Mark Robins’ men a couple of days to recover before the high profile televised fixture.

Maidstone, meanwhile, have been given permission to postpone their Vanarama National League South match with Weymouth, which was due to take place next Saturday.

Club director of football, Bill Williams said: “These FA Cup runs do not come along all that often and it’s taken our club more than 120 years to reach this stage of the competition. Our thanks to the league and Weymouth for supporting the rearrangement.”

George Elokobi’s side were due to be in action on Monday night (Feb 19) at Aveley, but then have a clear week to prepare to face their Championship opponents in the cup.

Watford tickets latest

Coventry City’s away allocation for next month’s trip to Watford have now sold-out. The Sky Blues make the trip to Vicarage Road on Saturday, March 9, with a 3pm kick-off for the Championship fixture. City had a full allocation of 2,104 tickets for this fixture and will not be receiving any more.