Zain Westbrooke believes it was “a good lesson to learn” after the Sky Blues were beaten at home by a resolute Tranmere Rovers side on Sunday.
The midfielder was making his first league start since the goalless draw with Burton Albion in mid-September but couldn’t help City get back to winning ways in Sky Bet League One.
Despite dominating the game for large periods, the Sky Blues failed to make their pressure count which Westbrooke believes is a valuable lesson to learn so early on in the season.
Westbrooke said: “It’s a good lesson to learn. We were on top for virtually the whole game, but we didn’t take our chances and in the end that hurt us.
"We’re playing good football and creating the chances, we just need to be more clinical. I think if we’d have scored one, we’d have gone on to score quite a few.
"When we don’t score, we put a bit more pressure on ourselves in those situations. We just need to calm down and keep doing what we’re doing.
“This defeat won’t affect us with our work rate and our attitude, we know what our goals are this season.”
He also praised City’s defenders for limiting Tranmere’s attacking threat but admits he is disappointed not to have come away with the three points.
“I think we dealt with their threat really well, the back four dealt with the long balls and strength of the striker, but in the end, we needed the three points and we didn’t get them so we’re disappointed.
“There’s not much we can do about time wasting. Teams are going to have different styles and their style was to sit in and try and counter attack us.”
The 22-year-old was also full of praise for striker Matty Godden who captained the side for Sunday’s game.
“Matty played really well and led the line well. He came so close, on several occasions, but it just wasn’t to be for him today.
“No striker is going to be happy with missing chances, but he knows he’s going to get another chance to score next week and that’s what he’s got to do and the team needs to help him to do that.”
Westbrooke hopes he can keep his place in the side going forward but knows there is stiff competition for places in Mark Robins squad.
“The aim is always to be starting every week. The gaffer has said that every shirt is up for grabs, if you work hard and play well then you keep your place.
“It’s always good to have a midweek game or a cup game to get yourself back out there and show the gaffer why you should be playing.
“I knew from minute one of pre-season there was going to be tough competition for a place in the squad and that’s how it’s proved.
“There’s been a lot of chopping and changing to try and find the best team for each game. But you just have to trust the gaffer to make the right decision.”