Coventry Sphinx manager Luke Hopkins felt that his side should have had six points from his side’s last two Midland Football League Premier Division matches.
Sphinx were beaten 1-0 at Long Eaton United on Saturday but bounced back on Monday afternoon beating Kirby Muxloe 2-0 at Sphinx Drive and Hopkins told the Sphinx website: “Three points which have should been six and although it is too early to look at the table, thirteen points from six games, sets us up nicely.
“Long Eaton away on Saturday was a new place to go and a test of character amongst the lads, the fear of the unknown and the qualities they have.
With this league, players usually on a whole are known and with certain teams there isn’t much movement of managers or players so you know bits without having them watched etc, but Long Eaton was all new, we had had them watched and they were exactly what we thought. But again missing chances and making the wrong decisions on the pitch has come back to bite us on the rear end.
“Realistically, it should have been 2-0 before half time and that would have been a nice lead to protect and hopefully get them to open up for us a little more with a strict defensive shape, but it wasn’t and it left us in a poor situation as Long Eaton were more comfortable being the home team and they got a soft goal out of us.
“We made changes and tried to pull it back but, at minimum, it’s definitely 3 points dropped.
“The Kirby Muxloe game on Monday afternoon gave us a chance to put right the wrongs of Saturday and we did what was required in getting the three points.
“It was 2-0 but should have been seven if I’m honest and it is these chances that killed us Saturday and looking back against Brocton in the first game. We can’t just blame the forwards as it not just them, but we are due to put seven or eight past someone when we click and all goes in.
“Adam Bilic’s header was a great finish and it capped a great performance from him. My challenge to Adam is can he do that week in week out and make him the player we can all see glimpses of? He’s not a young lad no more and been around this level of football for 4 to 5 years so the two weeks ahead are very important for him and the club.
“The second goal came from Gio Dainty who has turned in some good performances with the sort of goal we are coming to expect from him. “Hopefully, he can stay fit and give us ten or fifteen goals this season.
“All in all, I think the team performed well and it has added a little confidence to them back to winning ways and they are all prepared for a switched on week ahead of preparation and games.
Looking forward, it is a massive two weeks in the clubs season. We have Bedworth United in the FA Cup which we did so well in last year and everyone wants a repeat. It will be a tough game but it is the magic of the FA Cup its one game, who knows what can happen?
“Then the following week, we are in action against Bewdley again from last season, this time in the FA Vase which we have had a great run in previously, although we have so many issues from last year at Westfields to put right after the M42 incident on the day of the game.