Coventry City player ratings as one Sky Blues star scores 9/10 and plunges Wayne Rooney into crisis
Coventry City responded in emphatic fashion to their festive thumping at Portsmouth by putting four past their south coast rivals Plymouth Argyle before half-time as they served up a Boxing Day feast for a packed CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues raced into an early 2-0 lead, with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Josh Eccles both finding the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes. Ephron Mason-Clark was involved in both goals, feeding Ben Sheaf to send in a cross to the back post for the Japanese winger to head in off the keeper for the first, and then feeding Eccles for a first time shot from just outside the box for the second.
City were also denied what looked like a stone wall penalty when Eccles was up-ended in the area as he was about to pull the trigger. But they extended their lead further in the 36th minute when the midfielder played Mason-Clark in behind, beating the off-side trap before hooking home past Daniel Grimshaw.
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Jack Rudoni then won the ball off a defender as Argyle attempted to play out from the back, and fed Ecces who picked his spot past the keeper to make it 4-0 before the break.
Half-time sub Victor Torp almost extended the lead to five early in the second half but his dipping effort was tipped over by a good save from the visiting keeper. And although City continued to dominate possession and push for more goals, Grimshaw came to the rescue again in the 80th minute to deny Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Things went from bad to worse for Wayne Rooney when substitute Callum Wright was sent off with a straight red card for a nasty foul on Latibeaudiere with three minutes to go.
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
OLIVER DOVIN: 6.5/7
Restored to the starting line-up in place of the dropped Brad Collins and was eased back into the limelight with a quiet first half when he had very little to do until first half stoppage time when he acrobatically tipped over the bar to deny Finn a consolation goal. A relative bystander after the break, such was City's dominance.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 6.5/7
Defended well and got forward well, albeit most of City’s attacks came down the left. A comfortable game for the right-back who defended well when required.
BOBBY THOMAS: 6.5/7
Defended well as he looked back on his game, showing plenty of composure in possession and reading the game well.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 7.5
Back in the starting line-up in place of Binks, the centre-back was alert to danger and organised the back four. Strong, aggressive and determined in the box. Stood up well and was strong against Andre Gray.
JAKE BIDWELL: 7
Added some much needed steel and no-nonsense defending to the left-back position and got forward well to link nicely with Mason-Clark. A welcome return to the side.
JOSH ECCLES: 9
Read the game well to win back possession in an accomplished return to the starting line-up. Denied a cast iron penalty in the 17th minute when he was up-ended in the box as he was about to shoot but the referee somehow decided not to give it, much to the astonishment of most inside the ground. Hit a lovely first time shot from just outside the box to double City’s lead in the 20th minute, fed Mason-Clarke for City's third and scored a second just before the break when fed by Rudoni to pick his spot past the keeper. Made one and scored two – a superb contribution.
BEN SHEAF: 7
Put the cross in for Sakamoto’s goal and helped dominate the middle of the park alongside Eccles. Good in possession and strong on the ball. Made it look effortless at times, showing his quality against poor opposition.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 7.5
Headed in off the goalkeeper at the back post to give City the 5th minute lead and tricky with his twisting and turning in the box. Exciting to watch in possession and his teased and toyed with his marker.
JACK RUDONI: 7
Pressed and organised from the front in an energetic display from the attacking midfielder who headed narrowly wide in the opening few minutes and won the ball deep in Argyle’s half to turn possession over and feed Eccles to score the fourth.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 8.5
Got at Argyle early down the left where he created City’s first two attacks, the second of which saw Sakamoto score. A constant threat down the left where he sent in a string of crosses, giving full-back Bali Mumba a torrid afternoon. Laid the ball to Eccles for City’s second. Played through by Eccles and hooked home to beat the keeper with a deserved goal for himself. Replaced at the break, presumably to save his legs for Sunday.
NORMAN BASSETTE: 7.5
Chased and pressed from the first whistle in a trademark lively, non-stop running display with his pace and movement causing all sorts of problems and giving Argyle the run-around. Didn’t score or provide an assist but was a constant diversion and distraction for Argyle’s defenders.
SUBSTITUTES:
VICTOR TORP (HT, for Mason-Clark): 6.5/7
Almost made it five with a lovely shot that was tipped over by the keeper.
ELLIS SIMMS (62 mins, for Bassette): 5.5/6
Put himself about up front where he looked strong and determined.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (62 mins, for Sakamoto): 5.5/6
Added fresh legs on the left and City continued to push but, understandably eased off the gas a touch in the second half.
LIAM KITCHING (74 mins, for Van Ewijk):
Given a run-out as Lampard managed his squad.
JAMIE ALLEN (74 mins, for Rudoni):
Livey and busy as City saw out their comfortable win.
Subs (not used): Brad Collins; Jay Dasilva, Luis Binks, Raphael Borges.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (4-2-3-1): Daniel Grimshaw; Brendan Galloway (64 mins, for Matthew Sorinola), Lewis Gibson, Kornel Szucs, Bali Mumba; Adam Randell, Darko Gyabi (64 mins, for Jordan Houghton); Tegan Finn, Rami Al Hajj (54 mins, for Adam Forshaw), Mustapha Bundu (36 mins, for Callum Wright); Andre Gray (HT, for Freddie Issaka).
Subs (not used): Conor Hazard (GK), Nathanael Ogbeta, Julio Pleguezuelo, Victor Palsson.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Sakamoto (5), Eccles (20, 45), Mason-Clark (39)
ARGYLE:
REFEREE: Adam Herczeg.
ATTENDANCE: 29,420 (1,183 away)
NEXT UP: Millwall (h) Sunday, December 29 (3pm).
