Josh Pask is “buzzing” after scoring on his Sky Blues debut against Bristol Rovers to help City progress to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night.
Max Biamou opened and completed the scoring with Pask doubling City’s lead five minutes into the second half with a powerful finish after bursting onto Callum O’Hare’s through ball.
The defender was making his first appearance for the Sky Blues after a series of ankle injuries prevented him from making his debut for the club following his summer move from West Ham United.
Pask was delighted to get on the scoresheet and keep a clean sheet, despite playing in an unfamiliar wing-back role.
Pask said: “I’m buzzing to get the goal and even more importantly the clean sheet was great, having conceded twice in the first game.
“I’ve been back a little while now, I’ve had on and off problems with my ankle unfortunately, I’ve played a few games for the 23s and I’ve made my debut tonight and I’m buzzing after that.
“The gaffer told me I’d be starting yesterday, and I was buzzing from then really. I had a lot of encouragement from start to finish and before and after the game.
“I’m not familiar with the wing-back position too much. I’ve mainly played right-back and centre-back so it was a new position for me, but I like to think I did a good job tonight.
“Wherever the gaffer puts me, I’ll do the best job I can do. Whether that be centre-back or right wing-back, I’ll try and do my best wherever he plays me.”
Pask admitted it was a tough game, having cramped up at the end, but was pleased to have finished the full 90 minutes.
“I got cramp at the end, it was a tough game and my first proper game back and especially playing wing-back meant I did a lot of running up and down the pitch. It was good to get out there and finish the 90 minutes.
“We’ll rest up now and go again on Saturday, whatever team the gaffer put out, we’ll do our best to try and get the three points in the league.
“I’ve just to keep doing what I did tonight. If I keep performing to the best of my abilities, hopefully I’ll get more opportunities like this.”
The 22-year-old believes scoring an early goal set City on their way to a comfortable win and dominant performance which extends their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.
“It’s always good to get a goal early on and that’s what set us on our way. We were confident to go on and play very attacking football and we looked comfortable on the ball which shows in the result.
“We’re looking to dominate possession in every game and play good attacking football. We have a lot of players high up the pitch and in and around the box, trying to get goals, and tonight was testament to that.
“We knew they were going to be a threat from set-plays and from crosses into the box and other than the one that hit the bar we did well to keep them at bay.
“We looked a threat ourselves from set-pieces, we came twice on a couple of occasions and hopefully we can get a few more goals from corners and crosses in the future.”
He was also full of praise for midfielder O’Hare who provided two assists on the night as well as the club’s strikers for raising each other’s game in recent weeks.
“That’s what Callum is good at, getting in those holes, turning on the ball, driving at defenders and slipping ball in behind. I remember against Tranmere he slipped one into Matty Godden and he’s done that again tonight.
“Max was fantastic tonight. All the centre forwards are doing fantastic jobs, Matty Godden was resting today, but even Baka is doing fantastic in training.
“They’re all fighting for the position up there and I think it’s great because they push one another to the next level.”