ANOTHER match, another City win but it was not comfortable viewing for joint-boss John Snape.

Worcester won 2-1 against Loughborough University to maintain a 100 per cent Midland League Premier Division record after three games. Job done it would seem.

But the scoreline only told half the story as a flurry of missed chances at both ends instigated a nervous frustration on the pitch, in the dugout and the stands.

Alexandru Albert could not miss an open net from two yards from a recycled corner to put City in the driving seat after 14 minutes.

The hosts carried a constant threat but looked equally capable of imploding with debutant keeper Tom Palmer, in for hamstring victim Matt Gwynne, forced to smother at the feet of Cameron Gordon twice in as many minutes.

Palmer then charged down Alex Dinsmore’s angled effort after Albert had been mugged by Alex Read just before the interval.

Aaron Brett’s introduction gave City more impetus and an incisive break led to Mark Danks cutting inside and unleashing an Exocet from 25 yards that swerved and dipped under the bar.

Game over? Not quite.

Danks pelted the post following Brett’s tidy hold-up play but Christian Eneremadv’s deflected shot looped over Palmer to half the deficit with 16 minutes left.

Danks was clumsily brought down by Oliver Davis in the box but Tyler Weir’s well-placed penalty was not powerful enough as Jake King pushed around the post.

In a tense finale, Palmer again earned his corn by parrying a fierce 18-yard drive from George Lynam before blocking Joe Boachie’s last-ditch effort.

“The decision making and range of pass when we were quite comfortable showed we were trying to force a game when we didn’t need to,” said Snape.

“I want us to be offensive and score goals but I was disappointed we conceded. It went from front to back from a silly foul and we switched off, which you cannot do at any level.

“We showed naivety when an extra pass could have got us in that bit easier. It is a case of being neater and tidier and getting those rough edges off.

“When we do pass and move, it is a pleasure to watch but when the ball is in the box we need to be ruthless because we had seven or eight good chances and still haven’t worked the goalkeeper.”

Tomorrow brings a greater challenge at much-fancied Coventry United (3pm), a team that has matched City’s three wins from three in the league, with Snape considering a quick-fire swoop to boost his midfield.

Brad Birch begins a three-match ban, while Nathan Hayward has been sent for an X-ray on a foot injury.

“We will be working with the staff to maybe bring in one,” said Snape.

“We have a few bumps and bruises having played six games already and a few more coming up.

“I want to see a reaction from one or two, we took our foot off the gas and didn’t work as hard as we needed to off the ball against Loughborough.

“Coventry are tipped to go up and it is the type of game the players should want to play in. It won’t be easy, we have had a bit of a slog lately so there will be some tough calls to make.”

City: Palmer, Weir, Griffiths (Burrell 66), Fishwick, Albert, Birley, Harris-James (J Smith, 51), Birch, Danks, Reynolds, Baldwin (Brett 51). Unused subs: M Smith, Gwynne.

Attendance: 348.