Coventry City player ratings as Haji Wright gets stoppage time winner in superb second half come-back
Haji Wright scored a stoppage time winner as Coventry City came from two goals down to beat Luton Two 3-2 in a pulsating game at the CBS Arena.
Second half goals from Ellis Simms and Victor Torp saw a much improved Sky Blues pull back on to level terms against the Hatters before the USA star grabbed the glory in added time.
Despite a promising start when City forced the Luton keeper into two decent saves, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto conceded a penalty in the 14th minute which Carlton Morris duly scored from to give the visitors the early lead.
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Although the Sky Blues pushed hard for an equaliser, enjoying several set-pieces and a handful of shots at goal, the opposition increased their lead in the 37th minute when Tom Krauss slid in Elijah Adebayo to slot home past Dovin to double the lead.
Jack Rudoni replaced Kitching at the break and Coventry continued to play well going forward and got their rewards when Ellis Simms headed home from a near post corner to reduce the deficit just before the hour.
Victor Torp then got City on level terms in the 76th minute when Sheaf teed him up inside the box and the Dane hit a delightful curling shot that hit the far post and bounced in.
Rudoni then provided another assist for Wright to pounce inside the six-yard box in stoppage time to secure a huge three points for Mark Robins and his players.
STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-1-2
OLIVER DOVIN: 6
Beaten by a near perfect penalty kick from Carlton Morris who slotted hard and low inside the keeper’s left-hand post. Might have done better for the second goal when he could arguably have got a hand to block Adebayo’s finish. Kicked reasonably well and punched away one threatening corner. Made a really important block late on to deny Cauley Woodrow the winner.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 7
Defended really well at times on the right of the back three but arguably slow to come out to close down Krauss for the pass for the second goal. Mopped up and read the game superbly in the second half.
BOBBY THOMAS: 6.5
Held things together at the heart of the back line until City were carved open for the second goal, which came against the run of play. Defended well overall.
LUIS BINKS: 6.5
Calm in possession and made good use of the ball on the left of the back three but allowed Adebayo to get in behind for he second goal. But otherwise defended well overall.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8
Huge improvement from the wing-back who had a terrific shot punched clear at the near post and then pulled the ball back for Sheaf to fire inches wide. Had a hand in the equaliser. A constant attacking threat down the right who linked up well with Sakamoto and had a hand in the second goal.
JOSH ECCLES: 7
Tested the keeper with a curling effort in the third minute and worked hard against a big and physical Town side. Sent in a teasing cross for a great chance for Haji and Simms. Shot just wide as City went in search of an equaliser. Put in a real shift and battled for every ball in the dying minutes.
BEN SHEAF: 7.5
Fired just wide in the ninth minute as City made a really positive start and much better from the skipper who won possession well and made good use of the ball. Had a decent shot to test the keeper early in the second half. Passed the ball to Torp for his goal.
LIAM KITCHING: 5
Unusually deployed as a left wing-back and picked up an early yellow card for going hard on Moses as they challenged for an aerial ball. Operated more like an extra defender than a wing-back, rarely venturing forward. Well beaten by Moses who cut past him into the box to create a chance for the visitors.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 6
Lively and skilful, twisting and turning before laying off the ball. Deployed in the hole behind Simms and Wright from where he had an early shot blocked. Conceded a penalty in the 14th minute, with Morris giving Town the lead from the spot. Delivered decent corners
ELLIS SIMMS: 8
Strong and mobile as he attempted to drive forward with the ball and unlucky on two or three occasions in the box and finally got a bit of joy when he headed home a Rudoni corner to the near post to get City back in the game just before the hour. Flicked on Rudoni’s cross for Haji’s winner. Forced a late save that might have added another.
HAJI WRIGHT: 8
Won possession deep on one occasions to spark a counter attack that led to an early attack that resulted in a corner and two attempts on goal. Got on the end of an Eccles’ cross to the far post but somehow headed wide with Simms stretching at the other post but unable to make contact. Hit a decent shot that was deflected over. A decent threat going forward and bagged a huge winner for the Sky Blues in stoppage time.
SUBSTITUTES:
JACK RUDONI (HT, for Kitching): 7.5
Added fresh legs and more attacking energy and sent in the corner for Simms to score to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and provided the cross for the winner.
VICTOR TORP (66 mins, for Sakamoto): 7
Curled in a beautiful equaliser in off the far post. Made an impact from the bench for the second game running.
Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Jay Dasilva, Ephron Mason-Clark, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Norman Bassette, Kai Andrews, Fabio Tavares.
LUTON TOWN (3-4-3): Thomas Kaminski; Daiki Hashioka, Mark McGuinness, Tom Holmes; Victor Moses, Tom Krauss, Jordan Clark, Alfie Doughty; Calton Morris, Tahith Chong, Elijah Adebayo.
Subs (not used): Tim Krul (GK), Cauley Woodrow, Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly Mpanzu, Jacob Brown, Liam Walsh, Joe Taylor, Zack Nelson, Joe Johnson.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Simms (59), Torp (76), Wright (90+1)
HATTERS: Morris (15, pen), Adebayo (37)
REFEREE: Bobby Madley
ATTENDANCE: 26,409 (1,737 away)
NEXT UP: Middlesbrough (a) Saturday, November 2 (3pm).