Sky Blues boss running out of superlatives to describe Leon Clarke's match-winning double performance in cup win over Hartlepool
Coventry City boss Steven Pressley labelled Leon Clarke as 'a striker with phenomenal quality' after his two goals secured the Sky Blues' place in the FA Cup third round with a 2-1 win over Hartlepool at Sixfields.
The City striker netted a first half opener and then bagged a last gasp winner deep into stoppage time after Jack Baldwin levelled for Pool with two minutes of normal time to go.
The win sets the Sky Blues up with a third round tie with Championship side Barnsley at Oakwell and Pressley added that his side would be going into the tie with every confidence that they can progress.
"Our attitude was really good tonight but I was just disappointed with conceding the goal a couple of minutes from time because Hartlepool are a good side and up to that point they created no chances," he said.
"Winning 1-0 in a cup tie is always a precarious position and it proved tobe that way but our response to their equaliser was excellent. They made some changes that suggested they would go gung-ho in the later stages of the game and we felt that it was ther that we could exploit them and we did that."
Speaking of Clarke's match-winning brace, Pressley added: "What can you say about Leon. He's a striker of phenomenal quality at this level and he's scored two excellent goals tonight.
"He's a big player for us and when he's out he's missed but overall I thought it was a great team performance."
The win means the Sky Blues ring in the New Year with a third round trip to Barnsley and Pressley said the pressure would be on the Tykes.
"These are really difficult games and you should never underestimate a team from the lower leagues because there's always that potential for an upset.
"With that in mind, all of the pressure is on Barnsley now and I feel that we've got a definite chance to progress."