Sky Blues manager Mark Robins was proud of his side following City’s 2-1 win over Fleetwood Town at the Ricoh Arena.
Amadou Bakayoko had given City the lead early on, before Jordy Hiwula regained the lead following Ched Evans’ equaliser.
Robins drafted in 19-year-old Morgan Williams for his first league start and was thoroughly impressed with the teenager’s contribution.
He said: “It was a backs to the wall performance that contained really everything. Preparation for the game was difficult to say the least.
“Liam Kelly didn’t get here because they closed the M1 down and Jordan Willis limped out on Friday night and wasn’t able to resume and we obviously have lost Dominic.
“There was a lot of things that were against us, but I brought Morgan Williams in and I thought he was absolutely immense, he was brilliant.
“Both him and Tom Davies defended manfully. He defended beyond his years and I thought he was outstanding.
“David Meyler helped with his experience and you could see that. He put in a decent performance in all fairness.
“We spent a lot of time out of possession which has been unusual for us this season, but we threw our bodies on the line and defended when we needed to.
“I liked our performance because it showed grit, determination, and character.”
City took the lead in fortuitous circumstances as Amadou Bakayoko charged down Alex Cairns’ clearance and it somehow found its way in to the back of the net.
However, the manager believed that the striker’s work rate meant he deserved his goal.
“Bakayoko deserved the goal because of his work rate, he has closed the keeper down and got a block on it.” He said.
“Usually they can go anywhere and thankfully it did go anywhere which was the right anywhere and it ended up in the back of the net. It was a little bit of fortune, but he deserved it, he made his luck.
“We didn’t defend well enough in the first half against crosses and we ended up giving corners away. We gave them a bit too much ground and then Paddy Madden hits the bar and it gets put in and they equalise which was disappointing.
“I thought Jordy Hiwula was outstanding on the night. I thought his energy was really good and his skill and desire to get in to the penalty area. His shot was clinical, and he has nearly broken the net.
“I thought it was an outstanding goal.
“We had to withstand what they threw at us in the second half, but we defended well.
“We were a little bit too deep at times, but I thought Junior Brown helped us see the game out and he won some really good headers.
“I thought we all worked hard, we rode our luck at times, but I am delighted, and it is a great three points.”