CITY'S up-and-down pre-season left MACCA: WE'RE SHARP.

CITY'S up-and-down pre-season left fans wondering just what lies in store for the season ahead.

Hitting the back of the net 13 times in the opening two games, albeit against modest opposition, saw Sky Blue optimism soar to levels not seen for years.

The supporters were brought back down to earth with a bump with a run of four straight defeats, the most worrying of which came at nonleague Wrexham with as inept a display as you are likely to see at this level. But they bounced back with wins against Accrington and Port Vale and Gary McSheffrey - who notched a brilliant long-range goal in the latter game - has been around long enough to know that you can't always read too much into a club's friendly campaign.

"I had a pre-season with Birmingham a few years ago when our only win in seven or eight games was at Dagenham and Redbridge," he recalled. "But we finished eighth or ninth in the Premier League that season which was the best in 60 years of top level football.

"All the Birmingham fans were hitting the panic button then but we ended up having a great season. Obviously you can't rely on that, you have to get it right, but we've taken it on the chin and are determined to react in the right way."

It had all started so well for the 29-year-old Cov Kid who was determined to hit the ground running. "I always come back with the intention of making a mark in the season," he said.

"Last year I was off it a couple of yards in the first few months because I missed the last month of the season with a knee injury and I didn't really shrug that off until I came back for the pre-season.

"So having a ten week lay-off didn't really do me any good, but at the minute I'm feeling fit, strong and healthy."

He puts that down, in part, to a trip down memory lane as far as City's fitness work was concerned this summer.

"The first week was quite tough when we went back to old school preseason training which was very structured and involved a lot of running, I'm not going to deny it," said the forward.

"And we have all got a good base fitness so I think a lot of the lads have benefitted from it and I certainly feel a lot sharper than I did this time last year.

"We are all sent home in the summer with a programme which is all running orientated and CV work and you can't beat getting a good base fitness under your belt. We have done a lot of football as well and I think so far it has been good."

Although the football side of things is still very much a work in progress, McSheffrey remains confident of a good season ahead.

"I think the manager has made a few shrewd signings and I hope we stand out in this league," he said.

"We have got some good players in the squad with the likes of Kevin Kilbane and all his Premier League and international experience, as well as John Fleck who has played on the big stage at Rangers in front of 50,000.

"But dropping to this league brings a bigger pressure on players because everyone is counting on us to bounce back. So there is a lot of pressure on the boys but there is enough experience and freshness in the youth and hopefully the blend will be good and we'll be OK.

"I know the pre-season has been a bit mixed. Winning is a good habit to get into and we did that in the first couple of games but, realistically, they weren't really tough games.

"We know we'll be judged more on the harder tests but pre-season games are all about fitness and bonding, and making sure you get everything right and stay injury free.

"It doesn't really matter what the results are but I would rather not win in the pre-season and then win home and away in our first two proper games."

HOLIDAY OVER: Gary McSheffrey is hoping Coventry City get off to a flier. RIght, William Edjenguele has settled in quickly.