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Coventry City player ratings v Sheffield United as Sky Blues battle back twice against ten man Blades
Coventry City battled back from behind twice to get a hard-fought point against joint Championship leaders Sheffield United in a feisty affair a the CBS Arena.
Norman Bassette cancelled out Tyrese Campbell’s opener in the first half when the Blades increased their lead from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before having a man send off. But a sustained second half fight-back against ten men was rewarded 10 minutes from time when Bobby Thomas headed home the second equaliser of the day from a corner.
City came flying out of the blocks with some exciting and determined attacking play but that positive start came crashing down when they were hit by the Blades’ first attack, with Gus Hamer feeding Jesurun Rak-Sakyi who raced down the right and sent in a square ball to the six yard box where Tyrese Campbell slotted home to give the visitors the lead in the 13th minute.
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But the lead against the run of play lasted just nine minutes as the Sky Blues got back on level terms when Josh Eccles played a delightful ball into the box where Bassette stretched to poke the ball past the keeper to make it 1-1 with 22 minutes on the clock.
Hamer was the architect again, however, just after the half hour mark when he played Rak-Sakyi free in the box to the left of the goal, leaving the forward to drill home into the far bottom corner to restore United’s lead.
The visitors were then reduced to ten men when Anel Ahmedhodzic was shown a straight red card for shoving Bassette in the neck just before the break, and several players clashed as they went down he tunnel for half-time in an increasingly bad tempered affair.
City set up camp with a sustained fight-back after the break when Milan van Ewijk hit the post, Ben Sheaf had an effort blocked and Thomas-Asante had a goal disallowed for off-side. But the home side pulled level in the 80th minute when Bobby Thomas headed home from a Jack Rudoni corner.
STARTING FORMATION: 3-5-1-1
BRAD COLLINS: 6
Well beaten by a precise ball and perfectly timed run for United’s opener and beaten by a clinical angled shot for the second. Decent catch from a threatening Burrows’s cross-cum-shot. Kicked reasonably well and rarely called upon aside from the two goals.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 5.5/6
Deployed right of the back three where he was a calm and steady presence but allowed Campbell to get between him and Thomas for the first and could have got closer to Rak-Sakyi for the second.
BOBBY THOMAS: 7
Blocked and defended reasonably well but allowed Campbell to get between him and Lati for the opener. Got his head on the end of Rudoni’s corner to pull City level for a second time with ten minutes to go. Defended really well when he had to after the break.
LUIS BINKS: 7.5
Got ahead of his marker to send Bassette racing into the box from a lovely long pass in City’s first real attack. And aerial threat from attacking corners. Excellent throughout.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 7.5
Displayed good skill and great energy going forward and picked out some decent forward passes looking to spring Bassette free. Had a couple of decent shots after the break when he thumped the post with one powerful effort. Linked up well with Tatsu when he went on. Very effective down the right.
JOSH ECCLES: 8
Really up for it as he made his return from his one match ban, working away at the bottom of the midfield box where he got stuck in on former team-mate O’Hare, much to the delight of the home fans. Provided a perfect assist for Bassete’s goal.
BEN SHEAF: 8
Slid in well to win a crucial ball after a short pass threatened to turn over possession. Broke the play up nicely for City as O’Hare barely had a sniff.
VICTOR TORP: 7
Deployed at the top of a box midfield from where he played some lovely forward passes looking to play Bassette in behind. Took some decent corners, including one straight off the training ground that was met by Binks who headed over after making a late run to the near post. Threw himself at a brave header and was denied by a good reaction save from the keeper.
JAY DASILVA: 7
Got forward well to support early attacks but struggled to contain Rak-Sakyi at times at the other end, unable to cut out his cross for the opening goal. Decent attacking threat on that flank overall, especially in the second half.
JACK RUDONI: 7.5
At the top of the box with Torp, he helped link the play and sent in a lovely cross for a brilliant Torp header that was denied by a good save. Plenty of endeavour and sent in the corner for Thomas’s equaliser.
NORMAN BASSETTE: 8
Lively and threatening from the first minute, running in behind and using his pace to great effect. Went down twice in the opening ten minutes a bit too easily in the box appealing for fouls but the ref was having none of it. Threw himself at Eccles’ cross to poke home the equaliser - a really instinctive striker’s finish. Clashed with Ahmedhodzic two or three times before provoking the defender to react and get himself sent off by shoving Bassette in the neck in front of the referee.
SUBSTITUTES:
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (57 mins, for Torp): 6.5/7
Lively and effective down the right wing as City set up camp in United’s half looking for a second equaliser.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK (57 mins, for Latibeaudiere): 6.5/7
Effective and decent impact when he went on as a left winger, winning corners and causing problems.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (57 mins, for Bassette): 6.5/7
Busy and hard working up top and had a goal disallowed for off-side after a lovely touch from Mason-Clark.
ELLIS SIMMS (76 mins, for Eccles): 6.5
Put himself about well as City went looking to win the game.
JAKE BIDWELL (88 mins, for Dasilva):
SUBS (not used): Oliver Dovin (GK), Liam Kitching, Jamie Allen, Kai Andrews.
SHEFFIELD UNITED ( 4-2-3-1): Michael Cooper; Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic (44 mins red card), Harrison Burrows (61 mins, for Sam McCallum); Vinicius Souza, Sydie Peck; Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (HT, for Femi Seriki), Callum O’Hare, Gustavo Hamer; Tyrese Campbell (45 mins, for Jack Robinson).
SUBS (not used): Adam Davies (GK), Jamie Shackleton, Tom Davies, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Andre Brooks, Ryan One.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Bassette (22), Thomas (80)
BLADES: Campbell (13), Rak-Sakyi (34)
REFEREE: Darren Bond.
ATTENDANCE: 28,067 (2,936 away)
NEXT UP: Burnley (a), Tuesday, November 26 (7.45pm).
