After getting more minutes into the tank, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins believes there were plenty of positives to take from the Sky Blues performance against Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon.
City fell to a narrow 2-0 defeat, despite dominating the game and creating plenty of chances over the course of the 90 minutes.
However, with the pre-season schedule continuing, the game enabled Robins to get more minutes into his side ahead of the season opener against Nottingham Forest on the 8th of August.
“Pre-season is pre-season, it’s always tough and you always get difficult periods but ultimately it is all about us getting into the right place for the start of the season.” Robins said.
“We’ve struggled to get momentum going due to the Covid interruptions and we have a lot of players at different stages so we all know there is a bit of work to do yet but there were positives to take from today.
“There was some decent movement and passing at times, but we did labour a little bit on the ball for the two goals, when we went to press where they didn’t come.”
Robins side was filled with plenty of youth against the Robins with the likes of Ryan Howley, Will Bapaga, Josh Reid and Blaine Rowe all getting minutes.
There was also another 45 minutes under the belt for Fankaty Dabo, who continues his return to full fitness.
“The young players too are obviously helping us get to the level we want to be at, and they can make mistakes as they are not quite ready yet, but they have done well.
“Also, It was Fanky’s first 45 minutes at wing-back, as he’s played as a centre-half previously, but that gets him closer to fitness.”
Next week will see the Sky Blues play their final three fixtures of pre-season as they take on Mansfield Town, Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Those games will enable Robins to bring the rest of his squad up to speed and he is looking to end pre-season with a ‘positive’ week.
“Next week is an important week for everyone really as we get them as close to completing 90 minutes as we possibly can.
“We’ve got three games next week with Mansfield and Norwich before Wolves, which then leads us into the week before the start of the season so there is a couple of weeks yet and hopefully, we can get people back and have a positive week.”
City take on the Stags at Field Mill first on Tuesday, with a trip to Chesterfield’s Technique Stadium next on the agenda the following day, as they take on Daniel Falke’s Norwich City.