There was much frustration but more relief as Coventry City put an end to their losing run which threatened to equal their previously miserable sequence of defeats in the season the club was relegated to League Two - some seven years ago in January/February 2017.

The Sky Blues created enough chances to win the game against a resilient Stoke side that came away from the CBS Arena with an impressive fourth consecutive Championship clean sheet, but the fact that they failed to score was more down to the quality of the finishing than any great defending or brilliant saves on the visitors' part.

Goalkeeper change explained There had been speculation among the supporters in recent weeks that it was time to make a change in goal, and Saturday saw Mark Robins make the call that some felt had been coming by dropping first choice goalkeeper Ben Wilson in favour of summer signing Brad Collins. Whenever an outfield player is replaced - Jay Dasilva for Jake Bidwell, for example - it's not highlighted anywhere near as much as between the posts where any change is magnified due to it being such a specialist position.

Robins struck the right chord in his post-match explanation of the decision, insisting that Wilson has done a fine job but that, perhaps, needed the pressure taking off him by taking him out of the firing line, while also keen to stress that Collins had not come to the club to sit on the bench. The manager wants the pair of them to push each other with healthy competition and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the long term.

Brad Collins after keeping a clean sheet on his league debut for Coventry City Good start from Brad Given that Collins had not played a league game since early February due to suffering an injury that side-lined him for a month and then meant he lost his place at Barnsley for the remainder of the season, it was a big occasion for the 26-year-old to come straight in in front of 22,449 expectant home fans at the CBS Arena. Although barely tested by a toothless Stoke attack, the former Chelsea prospect was confident and looked the part, commanding his area from Potters' corners, albeit numbering only four, and displayed decent distribution and quick-thinking to release the ball early to set up a counter attack for Haji Wright that he just got slightly wrong, but which Robins believes he'll get correct with the passage of more games. The fact that he kept a clean sheet justified the change for the manager and means the summer signing is now the man in possession for the foreseeable future.

It's interesting how the switch has suddenly changed the dynamic of the squad, in particular at full-back/wing-back where Joel Latibeaudiere and Jake Bidwell are now in possession of the full-back shirts ahead of big summer recruits Milan van Ewijk and Jay Dasilva - both of whom had gone off the boil in recent weeks. The pair look more suited to the traditional full-back role rather than marauding wing-backs, particularly Latibeaudiere who is a centre-back by trade and who did an admirable job stemming any potential flow of attacks down his side of the pitch. Bidwell, meanwhile, offers defensive muscle and solidity while also able to bomb forward on the overlap to get crosses into the box, albeit the quality of delivery being a bit hit and miss on the day.

Coventry City striker Haji Wright after a missed opportunity against Stoke If it's not one end it's the other The biggest frustration on the day was City's lack of quality in front of goal. They created three notable chances that fell to each of the bold forward line of strikers in the 4-3-3 formation, and all of which you'd have bet your house on at least one of them scoring from such gilt-edged opportunities. The first saw Ellis Simms head onto the outside of the post from a deep Bidwell cross, the second saw Haji Wright head onto the roof of the net from a Matty Godden cross and the third saw the latter connect with a corner with his shoulder rather than his head after making a brilliantly timed near post run. Other clear cut chances fell to Ben Sheaf just outside the box and Jamie Allen who appeared to have time and space from about ten yards out to find the back of the net rather than scuff his effort. It seems to be the way at the minute that one week City can score but let poor goals in at the other end, and then the following week they keep things tight but can't find a way through up front.

Football family at its finest It had been a tough week at Ryton with Kyle McFadzean absent due to his mum being ill and sadly passing away on Tuesday - something that touched all of the players and staff at the training ground. There was a real sense of togetherness with an outpouring of love and support for one of the biggest characters and leaders in the dressing room, and that spilled out onto the pitch against Stoke where every player, to a man, put in a determined and hard working shift. Brad Collins revealed afterwards that the lads had wanted to get a result for their absent friend and it was touching that early on in the game the fans sang McFadzean's name aloud - a gesture that was roundly applauded. That's football family for you, and that's what makes this club so special.