FOOTBALL: MARK Venus was pleased with his side’s response from Saturday’s 4-1 hammering at Oxford as they fought hard at high-flying Bolton on Tuesday night but ended up coming away empty handed.
Zach Clough’s 11th minute finish proved to be the only goal of the game as the Sky Blues slipped to a seventh defeat on the road this season.
But unlike at Oxford on Saturday, Venus’ side produced a confident performance in the second half but they could find no way past a stubborn Bolton defence.
“We were really hesitant and lacked confidence in the first half, but as the game went on we got more belief,” said Venus. “We passed the ball better, changed the system and it gave us a bit more impetus.
“From the pressure we had, we probably deserved to get something from it. I think the early period we were put on the back foot but the longer the game went on we caused them problems.
“When you lose 4-1 and the way we lost, it is a natural thing for a footballer’s confidence to drop. The longer the game went on, the more justice they did themselves.”
The only goal of the game came courtesy of a mistake by Jordan Willis in defence after his sliced clearance allowed Clough to beat Lee Burge with a lofted finish.
Bolton had chances to double their lead but Burge made a series of fine stops to keep his side in the match and the introduction of Ruben Lameiras and Jodi Jones helped City’s cause after the break.
Lameiras was unlucky to see his shot superbly tipped over the bar by Ben Alnwick and defender Jordan Turnbull saw his header from a corner cleared in front of goal but the Sky Blues could not rescue a point their second half performance deserved.
Venus added: “It is frustrating for us, the way we conceded. At the moment those types of goals are too frequent and the players in there are aware of that.
“When you give goals away like that you make it hard for yourselves. But we did push Bolton back and were more than worthy of scoring a goal.
“Maybe it isn’t so much fortune, maybe it is having the anticipation, having the knowhow and getting men in the box.
“The fans again were fantastic tonight, and in the second half I’m hoping we gave the supporters something more.”
The Sky Blues will be looking to bounce back to winning ways this Saturday when they host struggling MK Dons at the Ricoh Arena, but they will be without the suspended Jamie Sterry and Marvin Sordell.
