STEVE Cotterill admitted his joy outweighed any sympathy for pal Micky Adams after Burnley ran riot to earn their first win of the season.

A stunning performance saw the Clarets score four times for the first time since Cotterill took charge at Turf Moor in the summer of 2004.

And the manager was delighted at the manner, as well as the margin, of victory against City's 10-men.

He said: "I go back a little way with Micky, so there is some sympathy but not at the detriment of us winning.

"We played some really good football and we've all seen how difficult it can be playing against 10 men.

"Psychologically they raise their game, and Coventry were having a go, even after losing Stephen Hughes just before half time.

"But there was huge endeavour from everybody and the game could have been over by half time because we started like a train."

The luck that has deserted Burnley this season looked to be playing tricks again when winger Wade Elliott suffered an early ankle knock.

However, the bonus was a senior debut from 18-year-old Irish midfielder Chris McCann, who showed genuine promise on the left side of midfield.

Cotterill added: "We had a little interruption with Wade, but sometimes those things steel you a little bit.

"We didn't want to stand on the touchline holding our heads in our hands because the players might have seen that.

"We changed things around by throwing Chris on and we felt he would be a little more disciplined in his approach to the game, so that's why we went for him at an early stage.

"He didn't even have a suit on Friday, bless him. So he went out and bought one for £75 and to be fair he looked alright in it, so we are going to reimburse him now!"

First half goals from Garreth O'Connor and Wayne Thomas and a late brace from Ade Akinbiyi earned the Clarets their first points of the season.

And the Clarets could even afford to miss a penalty, when Gifton Noel-Williams skied his 43rd minute spot kick.

"Gifton was delighted at half time that his penalty hadn't killed anyone," laughed Cotterill. "But he showed a lot of character in the second half. His link play was fantastic and he kept going right to the end."

Cotterill now has a free week to treat the injuries that have left him short of bodies. And he plans to redouble his efforts to add more depth to the squad with new signings before next Saturday's trip to Watford.

He said: "My target is to get a couple more bodies and we may need to take a couple of kids in. I was on the phone to a Premiership manager on Saturday morning and I phoned 10 last week, of which most have now returned the calls.

"In the next week, a lot of Premiership players' fates will almost be decided by whether they are in or out of the team and how far down the pecking list they are.

"We just hope a few of those calls come back and come to fruition because we definitely need to strengthen."