Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive following the Sky Blues’ full three-point victory at the CBS Arena.
Haji Wright earned all three points with a late winner at the CBS Arena against a spirited Blackburn Rovers. The game appeared to be heading for a draw as the Sky Blues were denied twice by the woodwork.
Just past the half-hour mark, goalie Ben Wilson saved a towering James Hill shot that appeared destined for the roof of the net, keeping Mark Robins’ men from falling behind. Minutes earlier, skipper Liam Kelly limped out and was replaced by Yasin Ayari, who had huge shoes to fill against a dynamic and mobile front line of two banks of three.
In the first minute of the second half, Matty Godden connected first time with a cross and sent it smashing onto the underside of the crossbar, and Bobby Thomas also struck the wall with a fine near post volley from a corner. But five minutes from time, Wright nodded home the loose ball after Yasin Ayari had hit the underside of the bar to give Coventry their first back-to-back victories of the season.
STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-1-2
BEN WILSON: 8
Got down low to make a clutch of crucial saves at his near post before brilliantly tipping a rising effort from James Hill over the bar. Came off his line superbly to gather on the deck and made a late save to prevent Szmodics from equalising.
BOBBY THOMAS: 6
Szmodics dispossessed him early on for Rovers’ first chance, but he brought the ball out nicely and came agonisingly close to scoring when he fired a volley against the bar from a second half corner. At the death, he defended himself admirably.
KYLE McFADZEAN: 7
From the middle of the back three, where he was attentive to threat from Rovers’ dynamic front three, he read the game and ordered things. Throughout, it’s pretty solid.
LUIS BINKS: 7
As he drove forward to join assaults and thread balls through to the forwards, he forced the keeper into a great early stop. I read the game quite well and slid in with some crucial tackles. Kitching came on late in the game to replace him after he received a yellow card.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 5.5
Again played out of position at right wing-back, but didn’t do anything offensively in the first half. Better after the break, although he doesn’t appear to be a natural wing-back. Late in the game, I made a critical block.
JOSH ECCLES: 5.5
In the first half, he took the majority of City’s corners, but his deliveries were poor. On a challenging night against a swift and agile midfield and attacking three, Kelly departed the pitch injured, he worked hard in the middle of the park. After the interval, deliveries improved.
LIAM KELLY: 6
Stopped Dolan from a blazing early counter attack and made several key tackles, assisting in clearing up a hazardous 24th minute counter attack, during which he was hurt and had to be replaced by Ayari.
JAY DASILVA: 6.5
Got forward from the first few minutes to provide a decent outlet down the left and might have done better with an early shot that went wide.
JAMIE ALLEN: 7
Busy and full of life in the final third where he tackled as well as making good use of the ball. Dropped deeper when Kelly went off to help contain Rovers’ quick and fluid midfield three.
MATTY GODDEN: 6
Displayed excellent movement and work-rate, as usual, but the ball just wouldn’t stick up front. Almost scored from his first touch in the second half when he connected with a cross and thumped the underside of the bar.
ELLIS SIMMS: 5.5
Strong and mobile but lacked any real service in a disappointing first half from the Sky Blues who spent most of the half defending frantically against a fluid forward three. Struggled to impose himself in the second half before making way for Wright.
SUBSTITUTES:
YASIN AYARI (26 mins, for the injured Kelly): 6.5
Passed up the opportunity for instant glory when he slashed at a Dasilva centre, seemingly with all the time in the world, and struggled to get into the game for the remainder of the first half when City missed Kelly’s presence and experience. Thumped the bar before Haji scored.
LIAM KITCHING (72 mins, for Binks): 6
Slotted in to the left of the back three in place of Binks and defended well.
HAJI WRIGHT (72 mins, for Simms): 7
Put himself about well up top and looked a handful without really causing Rovers any real trouble until he pounced in the 85th minute, heading home the loose ball after Ayari thumped the bar. Helped change the game.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (90+3 for Godden):
Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Jake Bidwell, Evan Eghosa, Bradley Stretton, Justin Obikwu.
BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-3-3): Leopold Wahlstedt; James Hill, Dom Hyam, Hayden Carter, Callum Brittain; Joe Rankin-Costello (69 mins, for Lewis Travis), Sammie Szmodics, Adam Wharton (48 mins, for Sondre Tronstad); Dilan Markanday (69 min, for Arnor Sigurdsson), Tyrhys Dolan, Andrew Moran.
Subs (not used): Joe Hilton (GK), Harry Pickering, Niall Ennis, Scott Wharton, Jake Garrett, Semir Telalovic.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Wright (85)
ROVERS: NIL
REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson
ATTENDANCE: 22,370 (684 away).
NEXT UP: Norwich City (h) Saturday, October 7 (3pm).
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