COVENTRY City boss Mark Robins said his team’s performance was “unbelievable, the way we took the press out of it” during the St Mary’s clash.

The Sky Blues came for the FA Cup fourth round tie with Saints armed with a clear gameplan, for which Ralph Hasenhuttl praised them, and performed it admirably.

Their low defensive block prevented any of the Saints forwards – Adam Armstrong, Theo Walcott and Shane Long, etcetera – from breaking the lines.

Saints were limited to few – if any – big chances while they trailed at half-time, before they had to introduce their “big guns” to find a way in.

Daily Echo: Coventry City took the lead through Viktor Gyokeres (Pic: Stuart Martin)Coventry City took the lead through Viktor Gyokeres (Pic: Stuart Martin)

Speaking after the 2-1 extra-time defeat, Robins proudly declared: “It was unbelievable, the way we took the press out of it, I have got to say they were outstanding, absolutely outstanding.

“It’s the best performance we have had since I have been here. Obviously you take the opposition into consideration but we were so unlucky.

“Their keeper has made two, three worldies at the end and for a split second I thought Waggy (Martyn Waghorn) had got it back to 2-2 but he’s just strayed off-side.”

He continued: “It wouldn’t have gone in if he hadn’t touched it, but their keeper made some unbelievable saves at the end; blocks and parries and we just couldn’t stick it in the back of the net.

Daily Echo: Willy Caballero was a last-minute hero for Saints (Pic: Stuart Martin)Willy Caballero was a last-minute hero for Saints (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“You could see they had to bring their big guns on and try to take the game away from us, and they just managed to do it.”

Hasenhuttl was forced into an early change with Nathan Redmond replacing injured Lyanco, before making a further double-switch optionally during the half-time break.

Stuart Armstrong and Kyle Walker-Peters, who were introduced in the interval, went on to score the two goals and complete the comeback.

Hasenhuttl also called for midfield general Oriol Romeu and attacking livewire Armando Broja to settle the ship, after naming 10 changes from the start to their last Premier League outing.

Daily Echo: Saints had to call for the 'big guns' to dispatch of Coventry City (Pic: Stuart Martin)Saints had to call for the 'big guns' to dispatch of Coventry City (Pic: Stuart Martin)

“Again, that’s the disappointment but for our supporters, it was a brilliant game but just tinged with a bit of sadness and disappointment,” Robins added.

“With the work they put in they deserved to take it all the way to the end and probably penalties. We created numerous opportunities and didn’t have that little bit of luck.

“It was a brilliant game to be involved in and we can take loads and loads of positives from it and then recover for Tuesday night because there are a lot of tired bodies.”