TONY Mowbray reserved special praise for winger Jacob Murphy after his impressive second half performance helped the Sky Blues secure a late 1-0 victory on the road at Fleetwood Town.
It looked as though the two sides were going to play out a 0-0 draw at Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium as Steven Pressley came up against his former club.
But substitute George Thomas secured a seventh win of the season when his shot took a big deflection off former City defender Richard Wood and bounced into the back of the net in the final minute of the match.
Mowbray was without influentual loan duo Adam Armstrong and Ryan Kent for Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood but the City boss was more than happy with the players that came in.
“We were missing a few players,” said Mowbray. “Adam Armstrong, who has been scoring a goal a game, and Ryan Kent, who is another player who is doing really well for us, are away on international duty.
“We were without a little bit of cutting edge but other players stepped up with Jacob creating a number of chances for us towards the end of the game.
“He grew into the game and I think that’s a common trait at this level. He looked really dangerous in the final stages of the game and he tried to create moments.
“We’ve also kept another clean sheet which is the basis for a good performance and it’s great to see the back five doing so well.”
The hosts perhaps edged the opening 45 minutes with Ashley Hunter sending an early volley from the edge of the area narrowly wide and Jimmy Ryan saw his volley from a similar position whistle just past the left-hand post.
Murphy came closest for the Sky Blues when he got on the end of a Sam Ricketts cross but his effort bounced across the face of goal and was cleared to safety.
After the break the visitors dominated for large periods and eventually found the breakthrough when substitute Thomas did well to beat a defender on the edge of the area and hit a shot at goal which took a deflection and beat Chris Maxwell.
“It’s a tough place to come.” Mowbray added. “We had to win here late last season because they are a well organised side.
“Steven’s teams will always work really hard and they pressed us high up the pitch, making it difficult for us in spells.
“I did feel as though we dominated the ball though and controlled the game for long spells.
“They kept going though, right until the end and we got what we deserved from the game. We worked hard enough to get the win and thankfully we did.”
