Yahoo News Andy Turner's Coventry City player ratings as errors and tired legs cost Sky Blues against Hull
Coventry City battled back to level terms twice against a hungry looking Hull who snatched victory 12 minutes from time from an under hit backpass to the goalkeeper.
The Sky Blues were stretched to the limit after Sunday’s epic FA Cup encounter against Manchester United with manager Mark Robins forced to make five changes and it showed in a lacklustre first half. And they only had themselves to blame for all three goals against them.
They conceded just after the half hour mark when Jaden Philogene wriggled free in the box and hit a low shot which Brad Collins appeared to have covered, only for the ball to bobble over his body and into the back of the net.
Kasey Palmer then hit a stunning top corner free-kick from inside the D to restore parity five minutes later, only for City to concede a penalty on the stroke of half-time when Joel Latibeaudiere was judged to have fouled Liam Delap, albeit replays showed the offence looked to have been committed just outside the box. But the kick was given and Fabio Carvalho stuck his dead ball shot into the top corner to send the Tigers into half-time with a 2-1 lead.
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Leading scorers Ellis Simms and Haji Wright were thrown on for the start of the second half when City came to life, looking far more of a threat going forward. And their endeavour paid off in the 58th minute when Jay Dasilva sent in a cross to the far post where Bobby Thomas rose high to head home a second equaliser.
But the centre-back under hit a backpass to Collins in the 78th minute, allowing Noah Ohio to nip in and poked home past the keeper who inexplicably didn’t put his foot through the ball in an attempt to clear.
Coventry City player ratings...
STARTING FORMATION: 4-4-1-1
BRAD COLLINS: 4.5/5
Pulled off a diving save to deny Omur in the fifth minute as Hull got at City early. Should have saved Philogene’s low 31st minute shot that bobbled over his body and into the back of the net but pulled off a really good one-handed stop at his near post to deny the young forward a second before the break. Should have attacked the ball more aggressively to attempt to clear when Ohio nipped in to an under hit backpass for the third.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 5
Deployed at right-back, the defender had his work cut out trying to stem the flow of early balls into the box and was skinned by Philogene for a good chance for Hull on 21 minutes. Gave away the penalty when he tripped Delap.
BOBBY THOMAS: 6.5/7
Won plenty of headers from a string of Hull crosses and corners into the box in the first half and slid in to challenges. Incredible effort after Sunday’s energy-sapping display, and topped it with an equalising goal when he rose high to head home at the far post to make it 2-2 just before the hour. Under hit a backpass to the keeper that allowed Ohio to nip in and score Hull’s third. Felt for the lad who looked knackered.
LUIS BINKS: 7
Made a crucial block tackle to deny Liam Delap having a shot on goal in the opening minutes and played with confidence, sending some decent long balls down the line looking for Godden. Showed real aggression in his challenges, refusing to hold back as he went flying in to Omur. Excellent throughout but forced off with what looked like a muscle injury on 65 minutes.
JAKE BIDWELL: 5.5
Linked up well with Dasilva down the left and provided his trademark solid presence at the back. Taken off and replaced by a striker at the break.
JOSH ECCLES: 6.5
Deployed wide on the right of a midfield four, Eccles got forward well on the counter attack as City soaked up plenty of first half pressure and played on the break.
BEN SHEAF: 6.5
Made excellent use of the ball and showed incredible fitness given he’d played 120 minutes on Sunday. Solid display from the class act who finally ran out of steam and was replaced by Allen for the last 14 mins.
LIAM KELLY: 7
Slotted back into midfield where he used his fresh legs and experience to good effect, doing an excellent job until he gave the ball away near the halfway line that sparked a counter attack that led to the penalty.
JAY DASILVA: 7.5
Played on the left wing and looked decent when he ventured forward and got back well to help defend for long periods in the first half. Dropped into left-back after the break but got forward on the overlap to provide the assist for Bobby Thomas to equalise. Defended really well in the second half.
KASEY PALMER: 6.5/7
Showed some nice touches but unable to provide the magic touch or killer pass in a difficult first half an hour but hit a stunning 22 yard free-kick into the top corner to pull City level on 36 minutes. Looked more of a threat after the break when the two strikers went on.
MATTY GODDEN: 4.5
Pressed and chased from the front but struggled to hold the ball up on his own and make it stick while up against two big quality centre-backs. Taken off at the break.
SUBSTITUTES
ELLIS SIMMS (HT, for Bidwell): 6.5
Added some much needed power, strength and a goal threat up front after a poor first 45 minutes from City.
HAJI WRIGHT (HT, for Godden): 6.5
Like Simms, increased City’s threat in the final third as they looked to battle back from 2-1 down, stretching the Hull defence.
MILAN VAN EWIJK (59 mins, for Latibeaudiere): 5.5
Showed excellent fitness to slot in at right-back and use his pace to good effect.
LIAM KITCHING (65 mins, for the injured Binks): 5.5
JAMIE ALLEN (76 mins, for Sheaf): 5
Great to see him back on the pitch and offering plenty of trademark energy.
Not used: Ben Wilson (GK), Dermi Lusala, Kai Andrews, Aidan Dausch.
HULL CITY (4-4-2): Ryan Allsop; Regan Slater, Alfie Jones, Jacob Greaves, Matty Jacob; Abdulkadir Omur, Tyler Morton, Jean Michael Seri, Jaden Philogene; Fabio Carlvalho, Liam Delap.
Not used: Matt Ingram (GK), Lewie Coyle, Ryan Giles, Sean McLoughlin, Ozan Tufan, Noah Ohio, Adama Traore, Billy Sharp, Cyrus Christie.
GOALS
SKY BLUES: Palmer (36), Thomas (58)
TIGERS: Philogene (31), Carvalho (45+1 pen), Ohio (78)
REFEREE: Leigh Doughty
ATTENDANCE: 25,023 (737 away)
NEXT UP: Blackburn Rovers (a) Saturday, April 27 (3pm).
