TONY Mowbray was once again left frustrated by a lack of goals as his Sky Blues side dropped to the bottom of the League One table after being held to a goalless draw at home to Oldham on Saturday.
Another disappointing display saw Mowbray’s side failed to find the back of the net for the fifth time in eight matches this season despite having no fewer than seven strikers at his disposal.
Marcus Tudgay and Marvin Sordell got the nod against Oldham on Saturday but the City boss has hinted that the likes of loan signings Dan Agyei and Andre Wright will be given a chance away at Gillingham this weekend.
“There will have to be changes made to the team,” said Mowbray. “You can’t keep getting the same result and expecting the team to stay as it is.
“The top end of the pitch, the decision making isn’t good enough. People need to have desire to want to run and get in the box.
“Wright and Agyei were disappointed they didn’t get on, and they will get an opportunity to show me what they can do. You can’t win football matches if you don’t score goals.
“Tudgay scores goals every day in training, he is a great finisher. He is a goal threat, and has physicality and experience. If you look at his minutes played to goals ratio from last year it is very good. We need him at set-plays against for example, but he also needs to score goals.
“We have to keep working on it, keeping telling them and keeping inspiring them. Sometimes you have to be selfish and think your job is to score goals. I need forwards to start believing that.”
Gael Bigirimana had a long range effort comfortable saved early on before on 14 minutes Bigirimana and Tudgay linked up well down the right before setting up Sordell but his scuffed shot was off target.
Freddie Ladapo had Oldham’s best chance of the match but his angled shot was well saved by Reice Charles-Cook.
Tugay perhaps should have put the home side in front moments before the break when he got on the end of a superb cross from full back Lewis Page but an unmarked Tudgay somehow headed wide of the target.
Shortly after the re-start Jamie Sterry was replaced by Dion Kelly-Evans after the Newcastle loanee picked up what looked like a nasty head injury.
Oldham almost went ahead in the 48th minute when Lee Erwin hit a thunderous shot against the crossbar and the visitors looked the more likely of the two sides to score.
Darius Osei had two goalward-bound shots blocked before Ollie Banks was denied by Charles-Cook, while at the other end Sordell used his pace to break free down the left before delivering a dangerous cross but Tudgay was unable to find the all important touch as the game finished goalless.
“We’ve put hours in on the training pitch this week, a lot longer than we usually would,” Mowbray added. “And the group have looked sharp, but it isn’t happening on a Saturday. It’s big characters that need to step up and do it on this stage.
“A scrappy 1-0 win would have been nice, we can get on with it then. The more time that goes on without the first three points, the more questions that are asked.”
