Mark Robins hoped that his side can ‘move on quickly’ after the Sky Blues bowed out in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup to Watford.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Daryl Janmaat and Adalberto Penaranda saw the Premier League side progress into the Third Round draw at Vicarage Road.
“They were really good. They freshened it up; they made 11 changes from the weekend. We had bodies that probably could have done with a freshen up.”
The Sky Blue Army were in full voice in a sold out away end. Robins was delighted with the support his side got. “They we unbelievable. They never stopped, thanks to the supporters. Some of our new players have never seen that and they want more of it.”
Coventry City had chances to cut the deficit; Callum O’Hare looked to have been brought down in the box near the end, but the referee was having none of it.
O’Hare was subject to some intense man-marking at times, and Robins believes that he may have been picked out as a danger man by his managerial counterpart Javi Gracia. “He got hacked a few times” Robins said. “He’s done pretty well; we’ve got a good player on our hands. He hasn’t played too much this season. He’ll sleep well tonight!”
The Sky Blues impressed with some of their playing out from the back, and Robins was pleased with this. He said, “We were brave; we played our game, and made a few wrong decisions at times, but thats to be expected.”
Robins admitted that he approached the game with one eye on the away trip to Oxford United on Saturday. “I rested a few, to try and get them ready for the weekend”, he said. “Athletically, physically, technically, tactically, they were better than us. That’s why they play at the level they do.”
“I thought some of our play out from the back forward was good at times, but when it mattered. We tried, we plugged away, but with a little more belief and bravery we could have given them a few more problems.”
“We have to move on quickly from it and accept that they were a higher level.”
Robins believes there were lessons to be learnt by his side. “What they have to do to become a top players is to copy what they’ve seen tonight”, he said was his advice to his side. “The way they moved the ball. It’s difficult to close down because they can just pass around you.”
“You’ve got to have that physical capability of plugging gaps, but also breaking against them quickly.”
Robins was keen to stress that Watford’s line up was a brilliant challenge for Coventry City. He spoke complimentary of some of their key players after the match.
“Look at (Ismaila) Sarr for example; he is their record signing. They have spent millions and millions of pounds on him and you can see why; the pace he has, he can just get away from players. It’s incredible pace.”
“(Isaac) Success possesses great strength; Danny Welbeck up top is an England international. It’s fantastic to play against these people, to learn what it’s all about.”