The Sky Blues secured a vital three points over promotion chasing Portsmouth on Tuesday evening thanks to a Matty Godden goal four minutes from the end.
Despite the game lacking many clear-cut chances, manager Mark Robins was pleased with the way his team defended throughout the game and how his side had the extra bit of quality to seal the victory.
Robins said: “It wasn’t a brilliant spectacle but a massive three points none the less, I think the big thing for me was the way we defended and how we could keep them at bay.
“Both wingbacks did particularly well and I think we defended better than we have done recently and we had to do that tonight, on set plays we headed everything out.”
Portsmouth came into the game having won their last nine straight games and Robins knew his side were in for a tough evening.
The Sky Blues were unchanged from their win over Bolton on Saturday and Robins had considered the different threats that Portsmouth could bring.
He said: “We were a little bit on the back foot in terms of the way they press and the way they get after you and we didn’t have the quality on the final ball or the pass in the middle of the park to build any momentum and we usually do that really well but not tonight.
“That was because of them, they stop you from building momentum, they block you off and they worked their socks off tonight.
“Thankfully we have worked them that hard that things started to open up and we made changes to effect the game and that’s what happened.”
Matty Godden missed Saturday’s win due to injury but was fit enough for a place on the bench this evening.
The forward was introduced late in the second half and it was Godden who provided the final touch to a well worked move by City.
Robins said: “It is brilliant when you have someone like Matty Godden to bring on.
“It was a brilliant goal, he was flicked in behind and his movement off the defender was great, he controlled his volley well and he helped it into the side netting and the ‘keeper was nowhere near it.
“He has only been back a couple of days in training otherwise he might have started the game, but it was good to see his movement and sharpness was there and he showed that little bit of awareness which was magnificent.”
The Sky Blues travel to twenty second place Southend on Saturday and Robins is keen for his players to take in tonight’s result and prepare well for the trip to the south coast.
He said: “I am pleased we have stopped their run and it gives us confidence to take into the game on Saturday from beating a side in really good form.
“From our prospective it was a big challenge that we have passed and we will take the 1-0 win all day long and we can look forward to Saturday now.”