Coleman vows to break cycle; Big Match Preview.

Byline: By Andy Turner 

THE Sky Blues must stop years of going round in circles if they are to finally make themselves a Championship force.

That's the view of manager Chris Coleman, who is still smarting after Tuesday night's 3-1 home defeat against Burnley.

The former Fulham boss isn't one to overreact and somehow managed to keep his cool at the end of last season as he managed to steer the club clear of relegation to League One on the last day of the campaign.

But Coleman's call for the midweek reverse against Owen Coyle's Clarets to act as a wake-up call for his team has been followed up by even tougher talking since then.

Most of that has come from the Coventry manager himself after he asked his players to avoid the media spotlight for a couple of days in order to reflect on the season so far, which, for the most part, has seen City dominating matches without getting their just rewards.

It's not a policy the Welshman adopts very often but he thought it was time for the talking to stop after two late goals condemned the Sky Blues to their third defeat in four stars.

"It's wasn't just the manner of the defeat," said Coleman.

"And I'm not one to hide my players from talking to the press just because we've lost a game. I have great respect for the journalists covering the club day-in-day-out.

"But I just thought it was time for them to think long and hard about the season so far and not to come out talking about it.

"I believed on Tuesday that I should come out and explain my thoughts to the fans but I wanted the players to reflect. I don't get carried away with league tables at this stage, but we dropped from sixth to 17th in the space of a few days.

"We need to address what's happening and we have to do it immediately.

"For too long since Coventry City were relegated from the Premier League it's been a case of what might have been and how we nearly did this or that. I am sure the fans don't want to hear that all the time. "They are desperate for success and they deserve it and so does this club. It's a massive club with a terrific history, but it's been going round in circles for too long from that point of view and we have to change that.

"Nobody wants anything like a repeat of last season and it's up to us to put it right on the pitch."

Coleman's team take on Derby County at the Ricoh Arena tomorrow in what the City boss calls a 'monster' of a game He says he's not satisfied to hear praise for City's style of play when it means other sides are picking up points at Coventry's expense.

"The supporters want something to cheer about and it is up to us to give them that," said Coleman.

"It's a results business and we need to deliver. There comes a point when you get tired of hearing other managers say that you are a good team when they have just taken three points off you.

"I would sooner grind out an ugly win against them and if that happens against Derby I will be delighted - and I am sure the supporters will be, too."

CAPTION(S):

TARGET...Chris Coleman says City must stop being a 'what might have been' club