The Sky Blues maintained their excellent home form with a 1-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday, with the narrow winning margin disguising the quality of their play, in the first-half especially.
Jay Tabb’s introduction to the side after injury brought a balance to the whole team that has been missing since the sales of first James Scowcroft and then Gary McSheffrey.
Tabb was excellent from a wide left role, drifting across the pitch intelligently and linking up well with Marcus Hall.
David McNamee also impressed on his return to the side, defending well and providing an extra dimension to City’s attacking play.
He, Hall and Tabb were all involved in an excellent goal for Stern John, who again linked up well with Kevin Kyle.
City should have had another by half-time and nearly paid the price on a couple of occasions after the break, notably when Geoff Horsfield was put clear but miscontrolled badly.
Unlike last season’s game against the same opponents though, it was a case of City playing too deep rather than being forced back by a stronger team.
On this evidence it Micky Adams’ side who have progressed from last season, while Leeds, who have had injury problems and do miss the departed Rob Hulse, look weaker.
Micky Adams on City’s striking options
‘Gary McSheffrey was a fantastic player for this football club but he has moved on now and so have we.
‘We are building a good squad here and have showed that we have got people who are more than capable of filling his boots.
‘I believe that will stand us in good stead.’
Matthew Kilgallon defends Leeds boss Kevin Blackwe
‘The gaffer’s done a great job and the lads are still all behind him.
‘The way we played in the second half shows we’ve got guts.
‘A lot of other teams would have folded out there but we’ve got character in our dressing room.’