Coventry City manager Mark Robins says the "difference in squad" cost them in their 2-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Reds sealed their fourth consecutive win against the Sky Blues to strengthen their position in the play-off zone. A strike from Brennan Johnson in the first half and another from James Garner in the second was sufficient to extend their unbeaten run.
Despite the loss, Robins believes there were positives to take from the game as they now sit eight points adrift of the play-off places. "I thought we played really well and thought we were really good up to the final bit and then we just didn’t have that final touch, which we have said quite often this season," Robins told CoventryLive after the game.
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"I think we were fluid, and these are a really good side, there’s no doubt about it. When you look at what they have got and what they didn’t even have involved tonight, and they are a top, top squad and team.
"They put you under pressure and if you don’t take your chances you can’t put them under pressure, so they take a deep breath and go again. And when they go they get into a position where we blocked one or two things but we have defended on the back foot, and done really well and were really aggressive at times.
"I thought the three centre-halves were really good. Rosey read the game really well and Fanky was absolutely outstanding off their right-hand side because Djed Spence has been getting all the plaudits this season and Brennan Johnson, who is an outstanding talent, and it was really important that we had that power from Fanky, and he dealt with them brilliantly.
"Jamie Allen in front as well worked his socks off to try to stop them, but we weren’t just stopping them we were stepping across and blocking balls into feet because Keinan Davis is powerful. And then when we got it wrong we ended up with the ball in the back of the net.
"They had Johnson and Davis and then brought on Sam Surridge and Lewis Grabban. It’s just the difference in squads."
On suffering a second defeat in the last five games, Robins added: "It’s difficult because no-one likes to lose. It’s not a great feeling but the supporters were outstanding again and the atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant with a full house, and it was an enjoyable game for all the right reasons apart from we didn’t manage to take any of our chances to put them under any real pressure."
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