Mark Robins praises teenager Jordan Ponticelli for brace at Crawley

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Coventry boss Mark Robins was quick to admit that teenager Jordan Ponticelli made the most of his first start since November after the Sky Blues strengthened their play-off challenge with a 2-1 victory at Crawley.

Ponticelli, whose early strike was cancelled out by a Lewis Young equaliser, pounced to hit the winner 12 minutes from time to give his side their first win in four games.

City are now sixth in the League Two table and – when asked whether 19-year-old forward Ponticelli could now have a run in the side – Robins said: “He was absolutely outstanding.

“I need to pick teams to win games. He is not used to playing in that role (behind the striker) but he has been clinical.”

Ponticelli, who scored 27 goals for City’s Under 18’s last season, came off the bench to equalise for the Sky Blues before they went on to lose 2-1 at Notts County the previous week.

Robins added: “It gave us a different spearhead. We conceded a really poor goal but in the second half we were really clinical and didn’t look like conceding.

“We played in a slightly different way and we could have scored more goals.

“Max Biamou could have scored a third for us right at the end, but the most important thing was the three points.”

Crawley have now failed to win any of their last five home games and head coach Harry Kewell has targeted maximum points from the final three matches of the season.

The mid-table Reds have already taken 57 points, four more than they managed in the whole of last term, and Kewell declared: “We are building things here.

“It is just silly mistakes that are costing us and I want to win my last three games.

“We made a slow start and gifted their goal, but scored an excellent goal ourselves and for the next 25 minutes we dominated.

“We had chances to go in front but didn’t take them and we knew Coventry would push.”

Former Leeds and Liverpool star Kewell is confident his men can build on their improvement this season, and added: ”We need to work on the ugly side of football.

“I am absolutely determined that we finish the season strongly, this team will go places and we will work and work.”