Coach Mark Robinson hailed Ed Joyce’s performance after the skipper put Sussex on course to end their 32-year wait for a Championship victory at Edgbaston.

Joyce hit his second century of the match to steer Sussex to the brink of a remarkable win.

Warwickshire’s stand-in captain Ian Bell looked to have put the hosts in control with an unbeaten 189 as Sussex were set a target of 330 in the division one clash. But Joyce reached 125 not out from 199 balls as Sussex closed the third day on 273-2 – 57 runs short of victory.

Robinson expects Warwickshire to come back fighting today but knows a second successive Championship victory is in their grasp.

And the avid Hull City supporter, who has confirmed he will be interviewed for the England head coach job vacated by Andy Flower, admits it is shaping up to be a good few days after the Tigers beat Sheffield United last Sunday in their FA Cup semi-final.

Robinson said: “Sussex have only won once here in my lifetime. And it is 32 years since we last won here, which is a hell of a long time.

“Myself, I’ve never won here in a Championship match although I’ve won plenty of one-day games.

“But selfishly, it will be a great few days to be the coach of a club who hopefully ends that hoodoo and also at the same time sees his team Hull City get to Wembley.

“Hull have never been to an FA Cup final in their history, so that was a good start (to the week).

“But we do have to be careful that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves with 58 runs to go because Warwickshire are a tough team and will come back and have a good go in the morning “But if we hold on then, we should be there.”

Robinson was full of praise for Joyce, who hit 117 in the first innings. He said: “I know how disappointed Ed was not to have really gone on (in the first innings).

“We watched Bell get a hundred and then really kick on. “Ed is a great captain in his own right and obviously leads from the front with the bat.

“Captaincy has brought the best out of him and galvanised him.”