COVENTRY City made a losing start to the 2024/25 Championship season following a narrow 1-0 defeat at Stoke City on the opening day of the campaign.
In a tight game, Lewis Baker scored the only goal on 78 minutes with Coventry unable to find an equaliser at the bet365 Stadium.
And Sky Blues boss Mark Robins felt his side missed an opportunity to start the season with a positive result.
Robins said: “There were too many slightly off it and it wasn’t something I anticipated after pre-season, but this is the real thing now, we have to make sure we’re ready for the next game.
“You want to play with pressure it has to be good for you. Bring it on, we have a really good group, and we could be a really special group but there is still work to do.
“We have to work hard, and I don’t think we worked hard enough. If people want to be comfortable and sit in position’s that are comfortable for them, they won’t be in the team for very long and they have to quickly realise that.
“There’s definitely some encouragement there. We have some really talented players in this squad, but the disappointment is that we should be a lot better than that and we will be, but this is an opportunity missed at the start of the season.”
Stoke started the brighter of the two teams as City’s captain for the day Jake Bidwell bravely threw himself in the way of Lynden Gooch’s powerful early effort.
And the Potters almost took the lead later in the first half when Junior Tchamadeu headed Gooch’s cross against the post from unmarked from six-yards out.
The home side went close again soon after as City’s debutant goalkeeper Oliver Dovin pushed Emre Tezgel’s header behind for a corner.
Stoke dominated the first half and looked to test Dovin again as Million Manhoef cut in from the right before curling a shot inches past the post from 20-yards out.
The Sky Blues improved after the break and created their first meaningful chance when Jamie Allen’s defletced shot looped into the air and Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson punched the ball to safety.
However, Stoke won the game on 78 minutes when Manhoef slipped in Baker down the left hand side of the penalty area and the latter finished through the legs of Dovin from six-yards out.
Coventry are next in action away at Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, August 13 with kick-off at 7.45pm at Ashton Gate.
