Micky Adams has praised the performances of loan signings Richard Duffy and Clive Clarke who helped Coventry City to defeat Colchester United on Monday night.

The pair, who were both signed on month-long loan deals before the noon deadline on Monday, went straight into the Coventry side that won 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena.

Sky Blues manager Adams had been short of full backs but now, having signed two in the space of an hour, can look forward to the next few months with more confidence.

"I have brought in a Welsh international and a lad who has been in the Premier League last season so I had no real fears about them," Adams said. "I thought they defended great. My goalkeeper has not had a shot to save."

Irishman Clarke, aged 26, has made four appearances for Sunderland this term since completing a #400,000 move from West Ham in the summer, but has struggled to regain his place in Roy Keane’s side after suffering a hernia in August.

Portsmouth defender Duffy had previously spent two loan spells with Coventry and, for him, at felt like coming back home after his return.

"It feels good, it's always better when you get the win as well," Duffy said. "It was a good performance and luckily we managed to get all three points.

"When the move was mentioned there was only one place I wanted to go. The club has always been good to me so it's nice to pay a bit back to them and it's nice to be playing football.

"I haven't been getting a lot of games with Portsmouth, I've had a few but not enough to make me part of the team, really so it's nice to get out and play some games here hopefully.

"There's similar players to there was last year, I think it's mainly the same bunch with a few additions but whatever team you play in you have to give everything."

Monday's victory pushed Coventry into the top ten in the table but they still need more consistency if they are to make a serious bid for promotion. With that in mind, Adams knows that their form at home will be key.

"Our home form was vital to us last season and if we are going to do anything we had to get it going again and we had to get it back on track," he said. "I thought both teams were nervous. I can perhaps understand our nervousness to some degree.

"The goal just before half-time settled us down. We played some better football in the second half. I'm disappointed not to keep a clean sheet but other than that I can't complain."