The Sky Blues boss rues the 'silly mistakes' that City made as they lost 3-2 to Port Vale at the Ricoh Arena…
Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray believes that 'mistakes of inexperience' led to the Sky Blues losing 3-2 to Port Vale this afternoon in a see-saw contest at the Ricoh Arena.Jim O'Brien gave City the lead before Tom Pope and Mark Marshall scored to put Vale in the lead at half time.
Sanmi Odelusi then equalised with 20 minutes to go, but Michael O'Connor's free kick gave the Staffordshire visitors all three points.
"We were naive at times for a young team," he said.
"When we made it 2-2 it looked like that only one team was going to go on and win it, but it didn't turn out that way.
"We gave away such a soft free kick, when we were in such a comfortable position just outside our area and it has gone on to cost us.
"It's not a surprise that we are where we are, because we're performing mistakes of inexperience. It's a work in progress as we move forward.
"If we have to go even more basic to keep clean sheets then we will do. I can't fault the players' determination, yet we have to cut out mistakes.
"We've scored two good goals, but I'm so frustrated as we need to start picking up points quickly."
Mowbray is now looking towards Tuesday's home game against Bradford to reverse today's events and will not dwell on this afternoon any longer than necessary.
He continued: "Tuesday we have an opportunity to pick up points against a side that have just played a hard, physical 90 minutes against a Championship side.
"We have to stick at it and give the defence stronger protection. But it's gone now, I've told them what I think and now we start again Monday."