Mowbray has called on his team to take their cup form into League One competition...
Manager Tony Mowbray was happy with his side’s improved second-half performance in the victory over West Ham PL2 last night.
City got their Checkatrade Trophy campaign off to a winning start, coming from a goal down to win 4-2, with goals from Jordan Willis, Ruben Lameiras and a brace for Jordan Turnbull.
Despite starting slowly, the Sky Blues reacted to Antonio Martinez’s opening goal in fantastic fashion, levelling the scores just two minutes later and controlling the game from there on out.
Mowbray was impressed with his side’s application in what could have been a tricky fixture: “I thought second-half we got after the game better, pressed more and scored a few good goals,” he said.
“It was a good work-out in the end. I am trying to get the message across to these younger players that you have to push yourself and this is our group this year so they have to grow up quickly.
“It is about learning on their feet really, and it was almost a game of two halves. They realised second-half that they could overpower a young team and performed better.”
Last night’s result made it five games unbeaten at the Ricoh and Mowbray admits it is something to build on as the season progresses.
He explained: “If you’re looking for stats it is certainly a positive one. We know we have to score more goals. We’ve had two games in the cup competitions and scored plenty, it is now trying to transfer that goal scoring form into league matches.
“Ideally I’d like my strikers to score but I’m not going to complain if others contribute. I’ve told my strikers they were good tonight and if they continue in a similar fashion the goals will come.”
He finished: “I’ve told the players not to worry or not to look at the league table at this stage as it is early in the season. We’ve got two tough games coming up and that is our priority at this moment.”