Coventry lost at home 4-1 to Bristol City with Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd angry at conceding three goals in the first 45 minutes. Marlon King was also sent off for violent conduct as Coventry had an afternoon to forget.

"We were only saying in the week that our games have been tight this season and there are lot of positives because we very rarely get done by more than one goal. I should have kept my mouth shut.

"It's all down to the first-half performance. It was inept and inadequate. More importantly, it was completely foreign to what we normally do and the team that puts that shirt on for us.

"I thought we gave them the game. The three first-half goals were all poor goals from our point of view and could have been avoided. For whatever reason - and I will certainly get to the bottom of it - we were not our usual competitive selves.

"We were the architects of our own downfall.

"Had we had the energy levels and application in the first half, we wouldn't have been in that position."

Boothroyd understood the decision to send off King.

He added: "If Marlon has raised his hand it gives him no option and he has to go."

Robins chief Keith Millen was pleased with scoring four goals away from home without playing particularly well.

Millen said: "We are delighted to come here and score four goals and win the game. It's a strange one to analyse straight after. We were clinical in our finishing.

"We took our chances without playing great. Coventry had two or three chances and our goalkeeper had to make a couple of good saves.

"To come in at half-time 3-0 up probably wasn't a fair reflection of the game but what is pleasing is that we look dangerous. We've got goals in the team and we look dangerous out wide too.

"They pulled a goal back and that picked the crowd up but then came the sending off. The lads have said he retaliated and swung an arm and if he has, then it's a red card.

"That killed the game and I was pleased with our fourth goal. It was a good move and was us at our best with pace and power. We had other chances after that but the game was dead.

"Nicky Maynard has been a big loss this season because he scored 21 goals for us last season and that's now three in three for him.

"I don't want to look back at what might have been. I just want to look forward and finish the season strongly."