Yahoo News Coventry City player ratings after Sky Blues made to pay for dreadful first half showing
Coventry City were made to pay for a dreadful first half display when Swansea grabbed a two goal lead at the CBS Arena.
The Swans got stuck into the Sky Blues from the first whistle and got their rewards in the eighth minute when the home side failed to deal with a Matt Grimes’ free-kick, which came off Ben Cabango and fell to Liam Cullen to pick his spot.
City then backed off Oliver Cooper whose shot took a deflection off Victor Torp to beat Oliver Dovin at his near post as the visitors doubled their lead just after the half hour mark. Coventry then pulled one back two minutes later in the 34th when Jack Rudoni hit a deflected shot in off Ronald from 25 yards out to get the home side back in the game after a shocking start.
Mark Robins’ men were much improved in the second half but their momentum stalled when the game was brought to a halt for seven minutes midway through the second half amid a heavy rain storm for the ‘players’ safety’.
And although they pushed for an equaliser, they simply couldn’t find a way through as their woeful record against the South Wales side continued.
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STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
OLIVER DOVIN: 5.5
Forced to make an early save at his near post as the Swans took the game to City, with the keeper beaten by Cullen from eight yards in only the eighth minute. Beaten at his near post by a deflected shot off Torp for Swansea’s second.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 5/6
Backed off along with Torp as they failed to close down Cooper for the second but had a hand in Rudoni’s goal by sending in the cross which fell to the forward to score. Got forward better after City had got their goal back and finally woken up. An attacking threat after the break when he turned his marker in the box and was denied by the keeper at the near post.
BOBBY THOMAS: 5.5/6
Had a flicked chance at the near post from a corner but found himself defending for long periods in the first half when City were second best in every department.
LUIS BINKS: 5.5/6
Read the game well, blocking, heading and clearing as City came under fire in a poor opening 45. Had a good understanding with Thomas, particularly in he second half when the Sky Blues controlled the game more, going in search of an equaliser.
JAKE BIDWELL: 5
Sent on a lovely cross for Bassette, who headed onto the bar but, like the rest of his teammates, gave the ball away cheaply in a sluggish start to the game. More of an attacking threat in a much improved second half when he linked up with Mason-Clark.
JOSH ECCLES: 6.5
Made a decent sliding tackle in the box to snuff out an early Swansea attack. Grafted throughout as Swansea executed a disciplined game plan. Grew in confidence as the game went on, proving more effective after the break when he tackled and won the ball and played some decent forward passes to get City on the attack.
JAMIE ALLEN: 4
Found himself chasing shadows in the first 20 minutes as Swansea dominated and then went down injured and limped off, replaced by Victor Torp.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 5
Had a couple of decent chances, one which he steered wide and another that was pushed away by the keeper. Lively, busy and hard working but lacked the killer touch. Made way for Sakamoto.
JACK RUDONI: 6.5
Failed to clear the free-kick in the box as the nearest man to Cabango for the goal but pulled one back for City with a deflected shot from outside the box on 34 minutes, which was given as an own goal. A constant threat after the break when City finally came to life.
HAJI WRIGHT: 4
Attempted to make in-roads down the left but his shots lacked power and direction to make the keeper work in an awful opening half from City. Off day for the USA striker who was replaced by Ephron Mason-Clark at the break.
NORMAN BASSETTE: 5
Tested the keeper early on with a powerful shot from outside the box which Vigouroux pushed wide. Headed onto the bar from a Bidwell centre when he should really have scored. Not as effective as in midweek.
SUBSTITUTES:
VICTOR TORP (24 mins, for the injured Allen): 5
Failed to close Cooper down for Swansea’s second goal, which took a deflection off the Dane to beat Dovin at his near post. Played a lovely pass to spring BTA free for a decent chance.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK (HT, for Wright): 5.5
Sent in plenty of crosses, albeit over hit a few too many times but helped turn the tide of pressure in Coventry’s favour and tested the keeper with a powerful shot to the near post. Good approach play but lacked the finishing touch as he blasted over from an angle.
ELLIS SIMMS (62 mins, Bassette): 5
Put himself about well chances were few and far between against a well disciplined opposition who defended their lead well.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (62 mins, for Thomas-Asante): 5
Added a fresh attacking threat.
JAY DASILVA (90+4, for Bidwell):
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Liam Kitching, Ben Sheaf, Joel Latibeaudiere.
SWANSEA CITY (4-4-1-1): Lawrence Vigouroux; Josh Key, Ben Cabango, Harry Darling, Josh Tymon; Ronald, Matt Grimes, Goncalo Franco, Eom Ji-Sung; Oliver Cooper; Liam Cullen.
Subs (not used): Jon McLoughlin (GK), Jay Fulton, Joe Allen, Zan Vipotnik, Florian Bianchini, Myles Peart-Harris, Kyle Naughton, Nelson Abbey, Azeem Abdulai.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Ronald (OG, 34)
SWANS: Cullen (8), Cooper (32)
REFEREE: James Linington.
ATTENDANCE: 26,273 (1,113 away)
NEXT UP: Leeds United (a) Saturday, September 28 (3pm).
