Sky Blues boss Mark Robins was left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon at the University of Bolton stadium.
City were held to a goalless draw by Bolton Wanderers, having dominated the game for large periods, but manager Robins was pleased with the effort his payers put in.
Robins said: “It’s always disappointing when you don’t win but I watched them play last week and they gave more today, in this game, than they did last week.
“We’re still working, we’re still early in the season. Whilst it’s disappointing, we haven’t got the 100% record that we were after, we have to take it and move on.”
The manager also praised Bolton for making it difficult for the Sky Blues whilst ruing the fact his side had three goals disallowed.
“When you play against a team of youngsters, who have got something to prove and the crowd behind them, and they’ve got a cause, they can make it difficult, especially if you don’t take your chances.
“Especially, if those chances, that you score, are then disallowed for offside and certainly one of them wasn’t. That’s a disappointment for me.”
In particular, City’s first two disallowed goals were tight calls with referee and linesman consulting on both occasions before ruling the strikes out.
“I’ve seen all of the goals back. Shipley’s one was probably, possibly, debatable because there’s a flick to him but even so it’s his big toe. Which is unbelievable, the linesman hadn’t given it, his flag went up late.
“There’s communication on the second one for Bakayoko when he scored, he’s behind Zouma. Jordy possibly should score but he’s bounced it on to Bakayoko, who’s put it in the net, that looks onside for all the world and Max’s is offside.”
The gaffer, whilst pleased that his side created numerous scoring opportunities, also believes his side need to improve in front of goal.
“The fact we’ve got into some really good positions a number of times and haven’t scored is something we have to improve on. Their goalkeeper has had an absolute worldy.
“We had 24 shots but there’s a couple I can think of, now, that went past the post that we need to hit the target with.
Brandon Mason’s in the first-half, Jordan Shipley’s. Liam Kelly’s gone through with an unbelievable chance at the end, maybe it’s a left foot one, he’s tried to guide it in with his right foot, it needs a bit more power on it but the keeper’s made a save there.”