Sky Blues boss Mark Robins was delighted with an excellent second half performance, which saw his side come away with three points against Huddersfield Town.
City were in a battle for the first 45 minutes, but after the restart, Robins’ side came out of the traps and took the game away from the Terriers.
Goals from Gustavo Hamer and Kasey Palmer capped off a positive performance, which saw the Sky Blues get back to winning ways.
Speaking after the final whistle, Robins was pleased with the way his side coped with Huddersfield and stepped-up to claim all three points.
Coming up against a difficult challenge…
“It was a hard-fought win, because they are fighting for their lives.
“There was a chance for them to get out of the bottom three and we haven’t been in great form in terms of points picked up, despite some positive performances in spells against Norwich and against Burnley.
“You’re in a position where you have to try and win and they don’t get any easier. They sat in with the ball and they had a good shape and tried and play on the counter-attack.
“We know they’ve got good experience and they were strong, and they’ve got some good players at the back. They tried to keep Viktor quiet and kicked him all over the place and tried to take his shirt off him before the final whistle.
“We didn’t create a big deal. We had some bits and pieces and some corners, but we weren’t able to break them down and they defended well in the first half.
“They’ve had nothing on our goal, and it was just first half of typical of what they are and how they set-up, but you know they’re a threat.
“We have to make sure when we’re attacking we lock everything in and we’re not ball watching or complacent and give up any space and we did that in the second half.”
Getting ahead in the second half…
“We got after them and we made it very difficult for them to play forward. They wanted to play into spaces, and they brought Kamberi on late in the game to try and have a runner with the ball but we handled it well.
“Gus won the ball in a wide area, and he has calmness and great quality to stick to in the back of the net and that makes them come out.
“Then we had a bit more joy and the second goal was a brilliant one for me. Viktor went down the right hand said and put a brilliant ball in for Kasey and he finished it really well and when he gets in a goal scoring position he will score but I think it’s the first time he’s ever headed a ball.”
The supporters playing their part…
“There’s been some negativity around the place and that’s not what we’ve been about for the last six years and that isn’t right.
“It’s not good enough for us or the players. We try to rub off on each other and give the supporters what they want, but it’s difficult at times and when it is we need them more.
“When they’re vocal and positive the players grow but when they don’t the players shrink and that’s a part of human nature, people go through difficult times and like to moan, but don’t do that.
“Come and support the team and get behind them and the majority of them are brilliant.
“I don’t like it when it’s flat so we have to try and generate that atmosphere and we need to give them something to get behind us and they do, always.
“We need them as much as we’ve needed them and it’s imperative because we have some really young players that need that help and support, not just from me but from the stands as well.”
Luke McNally’s debut…
“Luke was really strong; he didn’t miss a header.
“He’s only trained a couple of days and he hasn’t played in a back three for a while and it’s different and you could see that at times, but he did things we wanted really well.”
Fitness and injury update…
“Sean Maguire and Josh Wilson-Esbrand have to do some work to get up to speed. But it’s such a better place because we’ve got some bodies and players coming back from fitness.
“Michel Rose will be back in on Monday. He’s got a throat infection.
“Fankaty Dabo pulled up in training with a hamstring and he was in pain yesterday but I’m hoping it’s not too bad but we have to wait and see.”