Sky Blues Under 23s coach, Luke Tisdale was pleased with his side’s performance in the 2-1 win over Barnsley at the Alan Higgs Centre.
City began their 2019/20 Professional Development League campaign with a home fixture against the Tykes and the youngsters ensured it would be a winning start.
Goals from youngster William Bapaga and experienced striker Max Biamou were enough to ensure all three points.
Speaking after the final whistle, Tisdale revealed his delight with the performance, especially in the manner under the circumstances.
He said: “It’s really pleasing to start with a win, and I think even more pleasing for us is the manner in which we won.
“We started with a disjointed side and we had players playing out of position.
“We had Callum Maycock playing at centre-half for us which isn’t his normal position and then we lose Blaine Rowe in the first half which forced us into a change which we weren’t going to make.
“So, second half we have a scholar at left back in Callum Martin, Charlie Wakefield comes on and he’s playing at right-back, so we’re delighted with the work rate everyone has shown in the game to come through it and get the win.
“Tom Billson has made some fantastic saves when he needed to and that aids the two well worked goals from Max and Will which is pleasing.
“Last year was obviously good in terms of results and we have to keep an eye on the end goal, because it’s still about getting players into the first team and William (Bapaga) has made his debut last weekend which it is all about.
“But, overall it’s great to start with a win because we want to go one better than last year and to start with a win sets us up nicely.”
Ahead of the opening day fixture, the under 23s were struggling for numbers at centre-half, with Morgan Williams out injured and Jordon Thompson out on loan.
This meant a return for Callum Maycock who filled in at centre-back in his first fixture back following his loan with Macclesfield Town.
However, the midfielder picked up a knock during the first half and with no substitutes left Callum had to soldier on for the rest of the game and Tisdale was delighted with his commitment.
“Callum had to manage the game with his injury during the second half and we had no substitutes left so we had to be careful.
“We couldn’t roll him short passes and put him under pressure or make him work too much and to be honest he’s mentality is unbelievable and there wasn’t any doubt that he wasn’t going to stay on the pitch and fight through it.
“The other players have to see that, and the young players need to understand you can play through pain and Callum sums that up.
“Everyone worked really hard, the midfielders have worked hard, and even Max has come down to the 23s and put a real shift in.”