Tomas Gustafsson could have made a first team place his own after an inspired display in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

The Swede, signed earlier this season from AIK Solna for just £250,000, was drafted into the side on Saturday for his first full game and produced an exceptionally polished performance.

With Paul Telfer now struggling after being carried off with a knee injury, and Marc Edworthy still sidelined with ligament trouble, the Swedish international looks set for a long run in the side at right back.

He said:

"I enjoyed the game but I would rather be a substitute and watch Coventry win than play the game and us lose.

"I was very tired towards the end as it was my first game for three months but I didn’t want to let my team mates or the manager down and hopefully I didn’t.

"I always get a bit nervous before games and it doesn’t matter which team I am in – it could be a practice match, a pre-season friendly or Manchester United away.

"I think Coventry is now a club which everyone respects but it is points which count and we didn’t get any. Sometimes when you concede you just have to say it was a world class goal, and Andy Cole’s was just that."

Meanwhile Cedric Roussel left a game for the second week running having scored two goals but ending on the losing side.

The young Belgian kept City in the game with his sixth and seventh goals of the season but Paul Scholes’ goal 14 minutes from time proved decisive.

Roussel said:

"I will have to stop scoring and maybe it will bring us more luck! I thought the team did very, very well and we were unlucky not to get something from the game.

"Manchester United had one chance in the first half but they scored and that is the sign of a great side.

"We have got the team to finish in the top 10. Moustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo are back from Africa which will help the team, we have a lot of good players and we are playing well."