Andy King says Bristol City will need to become more innovative going forward at home because their opponents are happy to sit back and leave Ashton Gate with a point.
It's a compliment to the Robins and perhaps further evidence of the progress being made, especially on home soil, after City kept their fourth clean sheet in five matches at home. The 0-0 draw with Coventry was the first league stalemate Nigel Pearson's side have been involved in since September 11 last year.
City delivered 42 crosses against Mark Robins' side on Tuesday night but goalkeeper Ben Wilson was handed a relatively quiet night having denied Antoine Semenyo's effort in the first half. Nahki Wells and Tommy Conway also had efforts on target which Wilson dealt with comfortably.
The end of this month would mark 12 months since City ended their dismal home record which stretched to 17-matches with a 2-1 victory over Barnsley and while Tuesday's draw with frustrating on occasions, there's no question a corner has been turned.
Mark Robins' allowed his team to sit deep and narrow, meaning the midfield were gifted a lot of the ball but struggled to create chances through the middle. City had 686 touches in total compared to Coventry's 500 with the visitors happy to use the pace and power of striker Viktor Gyokeres on the counter-attack.
For additional context, Coventry average 50.4 per cent possession in the Championship this term - 11th highest overall in the division. At Ashton Gate, they had just 37.4 per cent of the ball.
King, who played a key role in the clean sheet both as defensive midfielder and then auxiliary centre-back, admits it's a trend City will need to focus on going forward because teams are starting to show them more respect. He also highlighted Kal Naismith as key in helping the club evolve on the pitch with his ability to play through the lines.
"Teams are starting to understand we're a threat and they're coming here to almost take a point and nick something on the break so it's down to us to find a way to break them down," he said.
"Our attacking players have been outstanding. I've been here 18 months and if you look at our game we've averaged two or three goals a game. It just didn't happen to us tonight.
"I think in general with the way we're playing this season in terms of having possession in games, dominating games and a lot of that is him (Naismith). I can't put enough praise on him in terms of his character to sustain attacks and to build them from the back.
"I think last year we didn't really have that. It was give them the ball, counter-attack and if we get it back we have to score within five seconds.
"We couldn't really build and break lines and I think we've seen this year when teams come to play us, they're sitting back because they know that we're dangerous on the counter-attack and that's a credit not just to him but the team and the way we've evolved as a group."
Alex Scott's suspension and Matty James' injury meant King was handed his first league start of the season and he was arguably one of City's top performers on the night. His showing was made more impressive by the fact he had to play 50 minutes in central defence after Naismith left the field with a calf injury.
It's a role he could be forced to play again for the trip to Birmingham depending on the severity of Naismith's calf problem. Timm Klose is doubtful with a knee injury while Tomas Kalas also remains absent. King admitted it's a position he does have some experience in while the coaching staff have prepared for the scenario by playing the 33-year-old in defence in training.
"I've played there during games. It's something I'm fairly comfortable with and I like to think I know the game and I know the position. I don't mind it you can see things in front of you," he added.
"When you've got a striker as quick as he is (Gyokeres) up top you have to get one step ahead. Five seconds in your head a little earlier but whenever I'm asked to play in the team I'll be absolutely delighted and try to do the job as best as I can.
"When you look about there's not too many options that are comfortable in that position so it's something they've maybe thought about. I've trained there in a couple of 11 vs 11s so wherever I'm needed, if they asked me to play in goal then I'll do that for the team and it was nice for me to be out there and a positive result obviously we would have liked three."
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