Coventry City player ratings as second half fight

Coventry City came from behind with three second half goals to get back to winning ways in a fiercely contested game at the CBS Arena between the Championship leaders and third from bottom Sheffield United.

Josh Eccles tested the visitors’ keeper early on but it was former Sky Blues star Sam McCallum who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when he side footed home in the six yard box after City failed to defend a flicked on corner.

The Blades were forced to swap their keeper at the break with Michael Cooper going off injured from a first half knock and being replaced by understudy Adam Davies, while Frank Lampard sent on winger Ephron Mason-Clark to help the second half fight-back.

And that started from the first minute of the second period as the home side set up camp in the final third and got their rewards from a long throw four minutes into the restart when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto nipped in on a loose ball and drilled home in the box.

City then took the lead on the hour when returning centre-back Bobby Thomas rose to head home a Victor Torp corner to the far post, beating a challenge from the keeper and a defender.

And despite some late pressure from the Blades, a break-away goal deep in four minutes of stoppage time secured the three points when Brandon Thomas-Asante tapped home from a square pass from Haji Wright.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 7

Clawed an early Blades’ effort off the line, albeit the ref had blown for a foul on Thomas. Beaten from close range by the unchallenged McCallum’s side foot in from a flicked corner. Not tested a great deal overall but commanded his box from a string of late corners. Good handling.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 7.5

Great link-up play with Sakamoto on the overlap and sent in some decent threatening long throws, including one for the equalising goal from Sakamoto. Defended really well at times, covering back to mop up the counter attack threat.

BOBBY THOMAS: 8.5

Made a welcome return to the back four where he defended really well throughout, right on top of his game to get the fans singing his name. Gave City the lead on the hour with a far post header from a corner.

LIAM KITCHING: 6.5/7

On the front foot with some early aggressive defending but failed to challenge McCallum in the six yard box for the opening goal. Defended well in the second half, particularly amid a late push by the visitors as City held their slender lead.

JAY DASILVA: 6.5

Displayed good positioning and made good use of the ball to help City out of tight areas at the back and got forward well on the attack, going close to equalising just past the half hour when he fired across the face of goal.

MATT GRIMES: 7.5

Cool and calm in the holding midfield role where he put himself about and won plenty of balls, showing controlled aggression in the tackle. Helped get a better grip in midfield after the break when City dominated amid a few tactical tweaks.

VICTOR TORP: 6.5

Sent in some decent set-piece deliveries but allowed Ben Mee to get the flick into the box from United’s 25th minute corner, from which they took the lead. Sent in the corner for Thomas to score.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 8

Lively from the start and also targeted for some rough treatment, including from former City favourites Callum O’Hare and Sam McCallum. Had a good battle with McCallum down the right flank and popped up with the all important equaliser early in the second half when he nipped in on a loose ball from a long throw-in.

JOSH ECCLES: 5.5/6

Back in the side in the number ten role, the home grown midfielder tested the keeper early on with a powerful shot that was spilled but rolled out for a corner but a bit loose in possession at times as City were over-run in midfield.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 6.5/7

Deployed wide on the left in place of Mason-Clark and went close to scoring when he nipped in on a spilled Torp free-kick in the 12th minute. Put a real shift in, working his socks off and helping track back. Secured the win with a stoppage time tap-in.

HAJI WRIGHT: 6.5

Made some decent early runs and stretched but couldn’t quite connect with a Kitching knock down and headed straight at the keeper in a frustrating first half. Dropped a bit deeper into space after the break in a bid to see more of the ball. Set up BTA for the third after making a good run down the left.

SUBSTITUTES:

EPHRON MASON-CLARK (HT, for Eccles): 7

Got straight into the game, offering a new-found and much needed threat down the left with his direct running causing Tanganga all sorts of problems. Forced the keeper into a good save at his near post after cutting in.

JAMIE ALLEN (90 mins, for Torp): 7

Added fresh enery to help see out the win and won the ball in midfield and sent Haji clean through to square to Thomas-Asante for the third goal.

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Luke Woolfenden, Joel Latibeaudiere, Jake Bidwell, Ellis Simms, Kai Andrews.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-4-2-1): Michael Cooper (HT, for Adam Davies); Japhet Tanganga, Mark McGuinness (76 mins for Femi Seriki), Ben Mee; Chieo Ogbene (76 mins, for Andre Brooks), Sydie Peck, Jairo Riedewald (66 mins, for Tom Davies), Sam McCallum; Tom Cannon (66 mins, for Danny Ings), Callum O’Hare; Tyrese Campbell.

Subs (not used): Tyler Bindon, Harrison Burrows, Djibril Soumare, Ryan One.

GOALS:

SKY BLUES: Sakamoto (49) Thomas (60), Thomas-Asante (90+4)

BLADES: McCallum (25)

REFEREE: James Linington

ATTENDANCE: 29,589 (1,170 away)

NEXT UP: Stoke (a) Saturday, November 8 (3pm).

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