Liam Walsh believes the Sky Blues did well to “rescue” a replay, but may have deserved more, after City twice came from behind to draw with Bristol Rovers in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.
City went behind early on at the Memorial Stadium to a Jonson Clarke-Harris penalty before Walsh responded with a well-taken equaliser from outside of the penalty area.
Rovers reclaimed the lead within a minute however, through the head of Tony Craig, before Walsh saw his goal bound effort turned into his own net by Craig, in the second half, to force a replay.
The midfielder admits the Sky Blues are disappointed not to have gone straight through to the fourth round but pleased to have twice come from behind and at least earn a replay.
Walsh said: “We’re disappointed not to get through, we had some great chances at the start and end of the game, but they defended very well. We did well to come back and rescue the game twice.
“We gave away a couple of sloppy goals, so we got what we deserved really, and I think a draw, and a replay, is fair.
“This result shows you that you have to put your chances away and if you don’t it comes back to haunt you.
“We’ll be looking to go into the replay, and the next league game, and put games to bed.”
Walsh also felt that City conceded two uncharacteristically sloppy goals but says the Sky Blues won’t change the way that they play.
“The gaffer encourages us to play it around at the back, we’re a good passing side, and we’re all very confident and believe in each other on the ball. The first goal is just one of those goals that you concede from time-to-time.
“The second one is a sloppy goal to give away, from a set-piece, so we need to improve on that, but the lads at the back have been doing well this season so we just need to let that one go and move on.
“We look to dominate most games through possession and that’s what we’ve been doing so far this season. That’s why we are where we are.”
The man on loan from Bristol City was pleased to find the net for the third time for City this season and hopes to chip in with more goals and assists as the season wears on.
“I got my head down and had a shot as I need to start chipping in with more goals and more assists and I’m happy I’ve done that today.
“I’m saying the second one is my goal, but I think it’s gone down as an own goal. If you look properly, the ball is spinning in towards the goal so I’m claiming a brace.
“We look to go out, each game, and play nice football and that second goal summed us up really.
“There was a lot of movement, one and two touch play, and Matty Godden with a great lay-off to me and thankfully we got a goal out of it.”
The 22-year-old hopes the Sky Blues can carry on their recent run of good form and believes they are well-placed to achieve success this season.
“The position that we’re in now, we’ve got a great chance of getting automatic promotion or in the play-offs.
“We’re just taking each game as it comes, and we just want to get as many wins and as many points on the board as we can.
“If we keep playing the way, we are and scoring the goals that we are then we’ve got a good chance of achieving that.”