The Scottish midfielder keen to clarify an incident that occurred after the Sky Blues' 2-1 defeat to Worcester City in the FA Cup on Sunday...
Coventry City Jim O'Brien was quick to stress that he did not touch a supporter after the Sky Blues' 2-1 defeat to Worcester City on Sunday.After the game, O'Brien remonstrated with a vocal supporter but the Scottish midfielder says that there was no physical contact, and no threats were made.
O'Brien says that the focus for all the players is 'starting to put things right' against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final.
"Online, this story about what happened after the whistle Sunday has grown legs," he said. "But I want to put people right.
"As I walked off, I went to the side and applauded the fans for their support. One young lad caught my eye and he was giving me a hand gesture and hurled a personal insult at me.
"People are saying I grabbed him, or that I put my finger to my throat. That is rubbish.
"People can boo and have an opinion, but when something personal is said that's where I draw the line.
"He was questioning my performance and that is absolutely spot on, he has every right to because we didn't play well. But personal stuff is not on, he wouldn't say it to me outside on the street so why should he say it in a stadium?
"It's all bravado, he's a young lad with his friends and he thinks it is acceptable. I apologise to any families around at the time but I only told him not to use those words. No threats were made."
O'Brien claimed that he is 'as annoyed as everyone else' about the Sky Blues' cup exit at the hands of Worcester City, and that the performance does not reflect on the day to day efforts of City's back-room staff.
He continued: "I want to apologise for Sunday's performance. We let the manager and all the fans down. I'm as annoyed as everyone else, it's given me a few sleepless nights.
"It's not a testament to how hard the staff and the manager work day in day out. They seemed to want it more, and that isn't right.
"Plan A wasn't working and we never found our Plan B. As the manager said we need to give our all or we're going to be out the door. We have a chance straight away to start to correct things."
City face off against Plymouth Argyle tomorrow for a chance to appear in the Area Semi-Finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. O'Brien believes that if the players take care of their performance, the result will come tomorrow against the Pilgrims.
He concluded: "Tomorrow is the same sort of challenge, lower league opposition. But it's about what we do, our performance, we can't focus on the opposition.
"It's about showing up tomorrow from the very first whistle and showing that we want it.
"You can't go into a football game and not be wanting to win it. If you do that, then you might as well not turn up."