Coventry City manager Mark Robins has accused Bristol City's Tommy Rowe of playacting during the Championship opener on Saturday.

The Sky Blues kicked off the Championship season with a 2-1 defeat at Ashton Gate after gaining promotion last season and winning the League One title.

Jamie Paterson opened the scoring for the home side before Matty Godden found the back of the net just after the half-hour mark. With the game a close affair throughout, the winning goal came through Tomas Kalas, who scored for the hosts in the final 10 minutes.

Following the game, Robins has suggested that Rowe and a number of his City teammates were looking to get Gustavo Hamer sent off during the game.

Speaking to Bristol Live, Robins said: “Tommy Rowe threw himself on the floor in the first half to try to get him (Hamer) sent off.

“So that’s another thing. The level is different and you don’t necessarily see it at the level down.

“There was no real contact and then they start to get onto the referee and he starts to react to it.”

Coventry will now prepare to face Gillingham in the Carabao Cup second round before turning their focus back to the Championship with a fixture against Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening.

Robins will know that tactics like this are unfortunately quite prevalent as you move up through the various leagues in England.

Bristol City obviously found Hamer a threat throughout the game and that should act as a big compliment to the midfielder and to Robins for signing the Dutchman this summer.

What did you make of Robins' criticism of Rowe? Let us know in the comments section below...