Gary Johnson has revealed that his Bristol City strikers apologised to him for their performances at Middlesbrough.

Although City stopped the rot after their capitulation to Cardiff City a week ago, they failed to seriously test the Boro goalkeeper Danny Coyne in a hard fought 0-0 at the Riverside on Saturday.

Top scorer Nicky Maynard has scored once in 14 games after a superb start to the season, while Patrick Agyemang's two matches since joining on loan from Queens Park Rangers have not resulted in an end product, although each player clearly needs time to work on their partnership.

Johnson has paired no fewer than seven different players with Maynard this season.

Danny Haynes, David Clarkson, Andrius Velicka, John Akinde, Alvaro Saborio, Evander Sno and Agyemang have all partnered the former Crewe man for varying lengths of time.

Now – probably for the first time this term – Johnson may consider whether he leaves Maynard out when Coventry City visit Ashton Gate on Saturday.

But two games – a 6-0 defeat and a trip to Middlesbrough – is probably not enough time for Johnson to consign the Maynard-Agyemang pairing to the scrapheap.

Johnson said: "He (Agyemang) didn't have a great game against Boro and he came in and apologised – as did all our other strikers. But he put himself about and it is not easy to go up against someone like (England squad defender David) Wheater.

"It's not happening for Nicky at the moment. All strikers go through that.

"A manager has a decision to make. Do you leave them out or do you keep them in? He has scored some great goals for us and we know he has quality.

"He is still one of the five or so top scorers in the league. You just wanted one to come off his heel or backside or shoulder and he will just settle down again. He is almost trying too hard at the moment.

"They (Agyemang and Maynard) could be a great partnership but of course they have got to get that going."

City's hopes of recording a home win over Coventry were boosted yesterday when Leon Best, the Sky Blues' top scorer, signed for Newcastle.

Best netted against City when the teams met at the Ricoh Arena in September.

There was little activity involving the Robins before the transfer window closed.