Coventry City player ratings with scores from 4 to 7 as Sky Blues frustrated
Coventry City saw out 2024 with a single point from a frustrating battle in which they dominated possession but simply couldn't find a way through a stubborn Millwall side who had only won one game on the road so far this season.
The first half was a desperately dull affair at the CBS Arena that produced one measly shot on target for the Sky Blues – a decent chance in the box from Ben Sheaf who hit his effort too close to the goalkeeper – on a day when the injured Ephron Mason-Clark’s presence was greatly missed.
A physical Millwall side did a decent to stifle City’s attempts to show any attacking endeavour in the opening 45 minutes that clearly suited the visitors and frustrated another impressive home crowd.
Coventry were much brighter after the break when there was more urgency to their game, and they went close in the 51st minute when Jack Rudoni hit the underside of the crossbar, only for the ball to bounce down the wrong side of the line. The home side continued to push for a goal and played by far the more attacking football but continued to be frustrated by their opponents, and managed just six attempts on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
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STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
OLIVER DOVIN: 5.5/6
Composed when playing the ball out from the back and made one routine save at his near post in a desperately dull first half. Made a well timed tackled outside his area to deny Langstaff nipping in on a short Bobby Thomas pass-back.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 6
Defended well against wide man Femi Azeez and covered lots of ground, helping to back up his team-mates. Got forward well but never really linked up with Sakamoto, who had an off day.
BOBBY THOMAS: 6
Alert to danger and got his foot in early on challenges and won plenty of defensive headers in the box. Played a poor and short back-pass to Dovin to force him to make a tackle outside his area but defended reasonably well overall.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 6
Read the game well and organised the back four well. Needed treatment in the 20th minute when he took a knock in a challenge but was able to continue.
JAKE BIDWELL: 6.5
Got in an early block to deny Leonard the opportunity to test Dovin and got forward well down he left on a day when City missed the attacking threat of Mason-Clark, linking up nicely with Rudoni and getting in the occasional cross. Defended solidly throughout, helping to match Millwall’s physicality.
JOSH ECCLES: 5.5/6
Drove forward to get into good attacking areas when he could while also doing a decent job holding in a flat first half. Played Rudoni into the box for a great chance early in the second half as City upped their game.
BEN SHEAF: 5.5/6
Hit City’s first real chance to score too close to the keeper in a steady first half from the skipper. Helped get City up the pitch quicker in the second half.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 4.5/5
Made a quiet start to the game and that continued throughout the first half, which was a desperately dull affair. More involved in the second half but didn't do enough overall.
VICTOR TORP: 5.5/6
Returned to the starting line-up and operated in the advanced number ten slot where he worked his way into the box nicely for City’s first chance, albeit Sheaf’s shot too close to the keeper. Went close early in the second half with a shot.
JACK RUDONI: 7
Filled in for the injured Mason-Clark on the left where he showed impressive skill and technical ability to work his way down the line at times. Helped spark City to life after the break when he cut into the box and fired a shot off the underside of the bar and unfortunately didn’t drop over the line.
NORMAN BASSETTE: 5.5/6
Busy, lively and hard working up front where he put himself about and was constantly fouled in a physical game. Starved of service and never had a single clear cut chance on goal. Eventually replaced by Simms.
SUBSTITUTES:
ELLIS SIMMS (69 mins, for Bassette): 5
Put himself about and showed some nice touches in and around the box.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (81 mins, for Torp):
Added fresh legs and another attacking threat, and went close at the death with a shot that dragged wide of the far post.
Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Liam Kitching, Jay Dasilva, Luis Binks, Jamie Allen, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Fabio Tavares.
MILLWALL (4-2-3-1): Lukas Jensen; Ryan Leonard, Japhet Tanganga, Murray Wallace, Joe Bryan; Casper De Norre, George Saville; Femi Azeez, Romain Esse, George Honeyman; Macaulay Langstaff (81 mins, for Tom Bradshaw).
Subs (not used): Connal Trueman (GK), Shaun Hutchinson, Billy Mitchell, Adam Mayor, Duncan Watmore, Mihailo Ivanovic, Raees Bangura-Williams, Alfie Massey.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES:
THE LIONS:
REFEREE: Andrew Kitchen
ATTENDANCE: 28,216 (1,022 way).
NEXT UP: Cardiff City (a), New Year’s Day (Weds, Jan 1), 3pm.
