City caretaker boss Richard Shaw pleased with strength of character on show in shootout win over Burton
City caretaker boss Richard Shaw said youngster Billy Daniels wanted to be the first to take a penalty in last night's dramatic Johnstone's Paint Trophy shootout win over Burton Albion at the Ricoh Arena.
The Sky Blues earned a second round berth after beating the Brewers 10-9 from the spot aftre a goalless 90 minutes with goalkeeper Joe Murphy saving two spot kicks, including one from opposite number Dean Lyness before stepping up to convert his own to send Coventry through.
And while Shaw expressed his disappointment at the Sky Blues' performance in normal time he said he was encouraged by the character on show during penalties, especially from the team's younger players like 18-year-old Daniels who is enjoying his first season with the first team after graduaring from the club's academy set-up.
"Billy came straight up to me after the game and said he wanted to take the first penalty," Shaw said.
"He was desperate to take one and I had to hold him back a bit and say the senior boys would take the first five and that he could have number six. He stepped up and he took a great penalty.
"Chris Hussey as well. By his own admission he had a poor game and we sat after the game and had a chat about it but despite that for him to step up and take his penalty in the way that he did is all credit to him.
"We obviously wanted to win the game in 90 minutes and I thought we had enough of the game and enough chances in the second half to win it despite a disappointing first half but a penalty shootout reveals character and the boys showed that they have real character.
"There's no question we have to improve and we will do but We just want to take the character we showed into Sunday now, do what we know we can do and try and get our first league win of the season."