Shaw questions team's mentality after loss to Stevenage...
Coventry City caretaker boss Richard Shaw bemoaned his side’s confidence after losing at home to Stevenage.
Goals from Robin Shroot and Marcus Haber secured the three points for the away side after David McGoldrick had put the Sky Blues ahead early on.
City had chances to get something out of the game but were unable to break down the stubborn Stevenage defence as the wait goes on for the club’s first League One win.
Shaw labeled the goals City conceded as ‘comical’ and questioned the team mentality after going ahead.
He said: “It was incredibly disappointing. We gave away two sloppy goals and we should have been out of sight in the first 20 minutes as we had two really good chances.
“Throughout the first half, we had some really good chances and were playing well but we dropped off that. They became edgy as soon as we went ahead and you can’t give away goals like that and expect to win any game.
“The goals were comical really. It seems as soon as we concede a goal, we go into a shell. I don’t know whether that is some sort of relegation hangover which is around the club but it isn’t acceptable.
“You can sense it amongst the crowd and the players. We concede a goal and rather than regroup, and encourage each other, we become edgy.
“You can see that in all the goals we have conceded this year. They have all been really poor goals to concede.
“We score first but there is definitely something looming over the players. It could be through a lack of confidence at the moment.”
Stephen Elliott did have the ball in the net during the first half but it was one of two incidents where the linesman ruled it out for offside. Shaw added that they were big decisions which went against the side, but it shouldn’t be used as an excuse for the performance.
Answering whether he thought the decisions went against Coventry, he said: “Yes. Well I’m going to say yes obviously. Stephen Elliott’s goal was fine and goals do change games and if it went our way, the game could have gone our way.
“I’m sure it was fine and they were fair enough goals. But we can’t blame those decisions for the result today as we were poor.
“There is no getting away from it and the side knows they must improve and put out performances better than that.”