Frank Lampard praised the character of his players after Coventry ended a run of three games without a win with a 1-0 victory over Bristol City at the CBS Arena.
A second half goal from Brandon Thomas-Asante was all that separated the Sky Bet Championship sides as the Sky Blues inflicted a first defeat in four games on the Robins.
After surrendering plenty of early possession to the visitors, the home side grew into the game and had a number of chances to take the lead.
Milan van Ewijk, Jack Rudoni and Ellis Simms all had opportunities to open the scoring before Thomas-Asante who eventually broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a fierce shot past goalkeeper Max O’Leary.
Bristol City responded and came close to equalising through Sam Bird and Max Bell but Lampard’s side held on for a victory which leaves them 14th in the table and six points above the relegation places.
The Robins, who had won three of their last four matches, are now five points off the play-off spots in ninth.
Lampard, who has recorded six wins from his first 11 games and is yet to taste defeat at home since taking over in November, said: “I was very pleased with the team today against a good opposition, it was a tough match.
“We showed great character throughout the team and we’re in a period now where we know we are missing some key players.
“But people are coming in and doing their jobs and it’s important that we keep picking up points during this period while those players are out and we keep trying to make a step forward.
“To get the clean sheet we had to fight hard and make a few small tactical changes defensively and I think the players did well with that. Then we got a goal that I think we deserved due to the pressure we put on.
“For me it was the one real moment of quality as we had a few nearly moments and then the real moment of quality led to the goal we deserved.
Bristol City boss Liam Manning said after seeing his side’s first Championship defeat of 2025: “I thought we probably had a few less chances than them but the chances we did have were probably the best ones of the game.
“It’s disappointing because we feel we should be coming away from here with at least a point. I think that’s the frustrating thing.
“I thought the pitch played extremely difficult. I don’t want to make excuses but they are probably used to it and we had to adapt quicker and we didn’t do that well enough.
“I thought the quality in the game in general wasn’t great, it’s frustrating and disappointing but we have to make sure we come away from games like this with a point.
“We’ve still got a lot of games to play and what you don’t want to do is miss opportunities to pick up points and it feels like that today.
“I’m not saying we deserved to win but we definitely deserved something because I don’t think there was much in it.”
