Coventry City pitch labelled an "utter disgrace" by Sky Blues boss Mark Robins

Coventry’s clash with Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, August 16 has been postponed with the EFL deeming the Coventry Building Society Arena pitch unplayable.

The pitch is still said to be unsafe and Coventry are trying to get next Saturday’s game against Huddersfield Town reversed with the clash due to be played at home.

“We can all feel sorry for ourselves because of the circumstances in which we find ourselves but we have to stick together and come through it,” Robins said after the 3-2 defeat at Millwall.

“The support again was brilliant and we just want to get that rhythm built. Everyone else is playing and getting that rhythm and we are playing against sides who are getting games while we keep missing them, so we’re going to have to get an in-house game on Tuesday. That’s all we can do to build the rhythm in a different way.”

Asked if he feels angry, disappointed or embarrassed by the pitch situation, he said: “All of those emotions. But it’s also worrying because you have a group of players who give everything. There has been so much work go in on the training field, recruitment and the board have helped in terms of the budget we can muster and I feel for everyone.

“I feel for the players and the supporters. The fans get the thin end of the wedge every time. Also my staff who put in an inordinate amount of work. It’s their heart and soul and when that doesn’t go right it makes it really difficult.

“It’s a bit of adversity and it’s how we handle it and deal with it. We have to stick together. We have a young group who will learn loads from this experience. And they will learn how to deal with the outside pressure that is really noise and how to come through it with a really good season under their belts.”

Asked about the chances of getting the Huddersfield game reversed, Robins said: “I am hopeful because otherwise we will be missing out again. They have got to come together and sort it out, like now!

“It’s ridiculous. It’s a ridiculous situation. People are saying, ‘it’s not my fault,’ ‘it’s not my fault.’ We need a football pitch. It was part of the agreement to get back into Coventry. It was the stadium that was built for us and we can’t play there, so that’s the feeling of everybody.

“It’s an utter disgrace that we are this point in time because of the amount of work that goes on and continues to go on. You just need that little bit of assistance from someone, whoever it is, but they need to sort it out quickly, to say ‘right, there’s a new pitch going in there.’ I don’t know when that can be. I know there are pitches that they lay and play in a week after or even a few days afterwards, so that should be an option for us.

“But unfortunately there are a few hurdles and hoops to jump through before that happens, I’m afraid.”

Coventry lost to Millwall at The Den on Saturday and drew 1-1 with Sunderland on the opening weekend of the season.