LEAVING HIS MARK

ROBINS IMPRESSED WITH JOB FOSTER IS DOING AT ARGYLE

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

COVENTRY City manager Mark Robins believes that Ian Foster has already stamped his mark on Plymouth Argyle after just six weeks as their head coach.

Robins had praise for Foster and the Pilgrims' players after his play-off chasing Coventry side drew 2-2 with them at Home Park on Wednesday night following a last-gasp equaliser from defender Liam Kitching. He pointed out how Foster had tightened up Argyle defensively while retaining the team's attacking threat.

Foster's first role in coaching in England was with Coventry at under18 and later under-21 level, when Robins was in his short first spell as the Sky Blues' manager, and he has a high regard for the recently-appointed Pilgrims' boss and his career development path.

Robins said: "It's his first go and he has had a really good grounding, but also he has learned whilst he has been with international football as well.

"He was in with us at Coventry City back in 2012. He was a coach in the academy at that point - always inquisitive, always wanting to learn.

"He got a really significant role with England in the (under) 20s and he has worked his way through. I think he will have worked with Neil Dewsnip (Argyle's director of football) before, or certainly paths will have crossed.