TONY Mowbray feels the Sky Blues ‘shot themselves in the foot’ after slipping to a 3-1 home defeat to Crewe which leaves them needing a point to avoid relegation from League One.
A bumper crowd of over 14,000 people were expecting the Sky Blues to secure their League One status on Saturday.
But Crewe ruined the party and continued their excellent form at the Ricoh by securing a comfortable win.
Goals from Lauri Dalla Valle, Ryan Colclough and Marcus Haber put the visitors firmly in control and Nick Proschwitz’s late strike six minutes from time proved to be little more than a consolation.
“It was always going to be a dangerous game,” said Mowbray. “Yet we’ve shot ourselves in the foot in the first half, conceding those types of goals.
“The game was educational for me, it has exposed the frailties of certain players in my mind.
“We must be braver at home, it was so raw to see. We were hurt on the counter with Crewe’s goals, the start of the game promised so much.
“I expected a positive performance but it did not come. They are not dealing with the expectations of the home fans.
“I thought at half-time though we could still get something, we just needed that third goal. But we did not get it.”
The Sky Blues now travel to fellow strugglers Crawley knowing a point will keep them up and Mowbray is preparing his side for what he has labelled a ‘huge’ game at Broadfield Stadium.
“We are where we are, it is so disappointing,” Mowbray added. “We need to prepare for a huge game next week.
“I am here to keep this club in the division. We need a big week and a big result against Crawley who will be scrapping for their lives.”
