The Blues boss had called for a reaction following a flat display in the midweek 1-1 draw at Blackburn.
And, after a low quality first half played amidst an anxious atmosphere, the Blues took charge to score through Sindre Walle Egeli (43), George Hirst (60) and Ivan Azon (90+5).
On a difficult first half…
“It’s been a challenging week, and it was a difficult start to the match, but the boys stuck together and stuck in there,” said McKenna, whose team move up to fourth in the table ahead of Wednesday night’s visit of Stoke City.
“Sticking in it during the first part of the game, when we weren’t smooth at that point, was important. We were struggling to impose ourselves on the ball. They were too. They’re setting every set play up and the ball’s hardly in play and it’s not a very good game. But there’s lots of games like that in the Championship. In those moments, you just need to stay tough and stay strong.
“We know the first goal is so, so important in every game, but especially in the home games here. And from that point on I thought we showed some real confidence on the ball, broke the press really, really well, counter attacked and defended well.
“I said yesterday, you don’t ever want to make any premonition, but I felt a response in the group over the last couple of days. When we get the first goal, the confidence grows in the team. I know how well we can play.”
On half-time team talk…
“I’d love to say it was all my wise words, but I’m going to say it’s mostly probably down to the goal, to be honest,” said McKenna, when asked what lifted his team after the break.
“You’re coming off not a great performance, not a great game in the first half, not a great atmosphere. We needed to be strong. We knew it was on us today to do our jobs well and stick to it.
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“I think the goal gives everyone a big lift. I think the players know that we can play really, really well. We know we can be a good team.
“I think we’re improving, but a lot of the game is also in your head. And when you’re not quite flowing, you get a moment like that, a great strike, it really boosted everyone. Then, at half-time, we just take a breath and sort of reaffirm that we’re going for the second goal.”
On not sitting on a 1-0 lead…
“We knew at half-time Coventry had got a real goal threat so we couldn’t just sit on the 1-0” continued the Blues boss. “That would have been the worst thing to do. So we stayed brave, played through the pitch a few times in the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, which gave the players real confidence because it felt like we didn’t need to have loads of the ball.
“When we had the ball, we had the bravery and the patterns and the quality to play through them. And then we stayed pretty composed in our defending as well. I think Christian (Walton)’s made a great save from the second ball on a set play, which Coventry are really, really good at, but other than that we defended resolutely, played through the pitch a few times well and counter-attacked well.”
Coventry have scored 50 league goals already this season and were 10 points clear at the top going into today’s game. Asked if this result sent a bit of a statement, McKenna replied: “No, it’s just three points. No statements, one game. The Championship is 46 games. It’s about consistency, mentality, how you go again after good days, how you go on after bad days. We quickly move on to Wednesday.”
On Christian Walton making three big saves…
Town keeper Christian Walton made two big saves at 0-0 in the first half and another at 2-0 after the break.
Asked if he’s got a decision to make when Alex Palmer soon returns to fitness, McKenna replied: “I’d much rather that be the case than Palms having been out and Christian having had a really bad stretch of games.
“I thought he was excellent today. I thought there was a couple of individually really, really good performances. I thought (Marcelino) Nunez needs a special mention as well.”
On Hirst’s goal…
George Hirst was perhaps fortunate not to be dismissed for a second booking in the first half for taking a shot long after the whistle had blown for offside.
He went on to fluff a one-v-one chance after the restart, but kept his composure to race clear and make it 2-0 on the hour.
“He felt and we felt that there’d be chances to get in behind today with their centre-halves and how they like to defend,” said McKenna.
“That was a big moment and typifies some of things I’m saying about character. George had a few touches in the first half that didn’t go his way, but stuck in there, did his job for the team and kept making good runs. He gets in once and misses. It would be easy to then drop your head and not be mentally strong enough to go and take the second. Big credit to him.”