Kyel Reid is the latest to pour scorn on suggestions that City can only play one way.

The long-ball tag has followed them around since Coventry boss Steven Pressley’s derogatory remarks about “dark age” football after last month’s 3-3 draw.

Winger Reid wants City to keep utilising the aerial strength and power of James Hanson. But he insists the targetman’s head is not their only route to goal.

Reid said: “Hans is a very big boy but he’s improving now with the ball at his feet. It’s better for me because I can feel confident in giving him the ball.

“He’s confident in holding it up and bringing others into play. That’s another dimension we can play instead of going direct or hitting the channels.

“It gives other teams something to think about. We’re not just a long-ball team like people are trying to say.

“You’ve got to laugh it off and take those comments with a pinch of salt.”

With more variety in playing styles among League One clubs than in the basement division, Reid feels City have had to mix it up and adapt to different scenarios.

He has full faith in Phil Parkinson to call the right shots in their push for the play-offs.

Reid added: “The gaffer’s had success in this division and the one below. He’s managed in the Championship before so he knows what it takes to get where he wants to be and where this club want to be.

“He also played a lot of games in his career. If we just listen to what he says then things will work out for us.

“There was a point last season where he said to us ‘you play the division and then you’ll win it’. We did that and showed that we are a good team and we got promoted at the end of it.

“You’ve got to mix it up at times now we’re in a different division and it’s a different style of play.

“Teams will be looking at how we had our success last year and trying to nullify that game-plan.

“So that’s when we come with something different and show that we’re not just about long balls and can actually play football because we’ve got good players in the team.”

City are keen to get going against leaders Leyton Orient on Saturday after their free weekend – the first of four clashes against teams above them in the promotion picture.

Garry Thompson has not yet returned to full training after an injection last week to calm down an Achilles problem. He has been working one-on-one with physio Matt Barrass.