Mark Robins was “proud” of his players after the Sky Blues extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches following a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United on Tuesday night.
The manager was particularly impressed by City’s second half performance in which Matty Godden headed home an equaliser from Fankaty Dabo’s cross to draw the Sky Blues level after Freddie Ladapo had put the visitors ahead at the break.
Dabo was singled out for individual praise from Robins who was full of praise for the effort shown by his players in the second period.
Robins said: “I thought they started better than us, we were lulled into trying to play them at their own game and we’re not as good as them at that, what we are good at, is what we do and that was the message at half time.
“I was glad to get in at half time to try and rejig things and the first thing we did was win a second ball which we hadn’t done up until that point, we got on the front foot and we got in with Franky down the right-hand side and Sam down the left-hand side, sometimes they take what you say to them too literally but that’s their youth.
“Low and behold, we get on the front foot, get down the sides of them with some really good football, Franky puts a great ball in, I thought he was outstanding in the second half, and Matty scores a brilliant header.
“The way that we set about the second half was brilliant from our players, where they’ve come from and where we’ve been, it’s a totally different journey to what Rotherham have been on and we can be proud of the second half performance.”
Robins still feels his Sky Blues charges need to show more belief if they are to achieve their targets this season as well as being more ruthless in front of goal.
“The game started to turn with Barlaser’s injury, that stopped our momentum for a little while, we weren’t fluid but they make it very difficult for you because of the way they press, we tried to take the press out of it, that’s why I went with two strikers up front.
“We don’t have the belief yet, once the belief comes into them, the sky is the limit and that’s the biggest thing to come out of tonight, we struggled to impose our game, but that is against a side that were in the Championship this time last year and who are big, powerful and strong and press better than any side that has come here bar none.
“They’re up at the top of the league for a reason, but we started to turn it around, it wasn’t us hanging on, Matty Godden has the chance where he lobs the keeper and the header that he’s missed at the end, we were a slither away from winning the game.
“Those are the things, that little bit of extra belief or ruthlessness, that wins you the game and that’s what champions are made of.
“We’ll take the point and move on, another game coming on Sunday against Sunderland is another great one to look forward to.”