LOAN MAN SHINES AS LOSS IS NOT WITHOUT A GAIN

CUP LOSS COULD YET BE A BLESSING AS SKY BLUES TAKE POSITIVES FROM EXIT

- By ANDY TURNER

COVENTRY City suffered their third defeat in four games as Mark Robins’ Stoke knocked them out of the FA Cup.

A wonder strike from Frenchman Lamine Cisse two minutes from the end of normal time settled the tight but competitive third round tie at the Bet365 Stadium where the Sky Blues continued their mid-season slump in results.

There were, however, positives in the performance from the team who now turn their attention back to their Championship task, starting with a huge local derby against Leicester City.

Here's some of the big talking points from Saturday's FA Cup defeat.

First impressions

The Cup tie gave Frank Lampard the ideal opportunity to throw in his two new signings to get a feel for the team and way the City boss wants them to play.

Romain Esse showed his versatility by starting out wide on the right and then later switching inside to replace Jack Rudoni in the number ten position.

While out on the wing he showed some nice touches, with a tendency to cut inside. He also showed the defensive side to his game with one particularly well-timed sliding tackle in the City box to dispossess a Stoke forward and put the ball out for a corner.

The 20-year-old grew into the game and came to life more after the break when he looked a lot more confident on the ball perhaps sparked by a bit of a halftime pep talk and his best moment of the game was when he pushed the ball past his man in the area and lifted it to the back post for Haji Wright to head onto the upright.