Coventry City player ratings as 4s and 5s handed out amid defeat at bottom of the league Plymouth

Coventry City’s play-off push suffered a setback as they lost 3-1 at bottom of the league Plymouth Argyle, passing up the opportunity of strengthening their position in the top six.

Two goals in the space of three minutes saw the home side get their tails up as relegation battlers Argyle built up a head of steam in the first half at Home Park.

The troublesome Mustapha Bundu was allowed to fire home unmarked to beat Brad Collins at his near post in the 40th minute before the wide man got the better of Milan van Ewijk to set up Ryan Hardie for the second, again beating Collins at his near post with 43 minutes on the clock.

City reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time when Ellis Simms got his head to a corner to force Conor Hazard into a decent save, only for the ball to fall straight to Haji Wright to tap home from five yards out to send Coventry in 2-1 behind at the break.

Wide man Bundu then extended the lead just after the hour when he forced Collins into a save from point blank range before the keeper lost sight of the ball as it looped up and the Plymouth forward nodded home into the top corner to make it 3-1 on 65 minutes.

Lampard made changes in a bid to get his side back in the game but the Sky Blues huffed and puffed and rarely got close to scoring against a determined home side fighting for their lives.

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STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

BRAD COLLINS: 4

Got away with a poor attempt to push clear a high ball when he should have caught it early on in his six-yard box, where he was fouled. Beaten at his near post for both goals, albeit unsighted for the first, but he will have been disappointed with the second. Made a save from point-blank range to deny Bundu but lost sight of the ball as it looped up before the forward nodded home into the top corner. Made two saves to cut out angled shots at either post to deny Argyle extending their lead further.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 4

Put his long throw into the box into use but needed to get back to help Latibeaudiere cover the threat from Bundu down the left - Argyle’s most effective outlet. Failed to deal with a long pass to Bundu who got away from him to set up the first Argyle goal and didn’t get close enough to Bundu again for the third.

JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 4.5/5

Struggled to contain wide man Bundu who cut inside him and out-muscled him on a couple of occasions to create chances by putting the ball in the box.

LIAM KITCHING: 5

Organised the back line well early on and played with plenty of aggression. Involved in the head tennis that failed to clear City’s box before the third goal.

JAKE BIDWELL: 5

Back in the starting line-up in place of the rested Jay Dasilva, Bidwell played a high line early on as City enjoyed plenty of possession and got forward well but replaced by Dasilva just after the hour.

JAMIE ALLEN: 5.5

Lively and bust in the middle of the park where he was excellent in possession and worked exceptionally hard on a day when he had the armband in place of Sheaf. Played some lovely, precise first time passes at times but made way for Paterson as City had to get more attacking options on the pitch to get back into the game.

MATT GRIMES: 6

Brought the ball out well and looked after it in possession as City looked for openings and defended really well as Argyle grew into the game. Decent on the ball with a good range of passing and forward balls.

JACK RUDONI: 5.5/6

Dropped into deeper position early on as City had to be patient with their build-ups against a tight and well organised Argyle side who started the game with plenty of bodies behind the ball. Not as effective as usual.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 4.5

Made a quiet start to the game but worked hard, up and down, albeit not really causing a threat to the home side. Lucky to get away without a booking after lashing out at Mumba after being grappled to the floor. Not in the game enough compared to his usual high standards and eventually subbed.

ELLIS SIMMS: 5

Led the line but well marshalled by big Bosnian Nikola Katic who had the physical edge over the centre-forward who rarely had a sniff of goal. Finally got his head to a late first half corner to force the keeper into a good save, albeit pushing the ball into the path of Wright to score.

HAJI WRIGHT: 6.5

Made decent runs down the left where he lined up with the overlapping Bidwell and pulled a goal back for City on the stroke of half-time when he tapped home after the keeper had parried a corner into his path. Headed wide from a Grimes’ cross late on and was City’s biggest goal threat on the day.

SUBSTITUTES:

JAMIE PATERSON (61 mins, for Allen): 5

Lively and worked hard as City were chasing the game.

JAY DASILVA (61 mins, for Bidwell): 5.5

Got straight into the game with some decent defending.

BEN SHEAF (75 mins, for Sakamoto): 4

Slotted into midfield but the damage had been done by the time he entered the pitch.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (75 mins, for Simms): 4

Added fresh legs and pace as City desperately attempted to reduce a two goal deficit.

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Luis Binks, Josh Eccles, Jack Burroughs, Isaac Moore.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE (3-4-2-1): Conor Hazard; Victor Palsson, Nikola Katic, Julio Pleguezuelo; Kornel Szucs, Adam Randell, Darko Gyabi, Bali Mumba; Ryan Hardie, Mustapha Bundu; Muhamed Tijani.

Subs (not used): Daniel Grimshaw (GK), Nathanael Ogbeta, Callum Wright, Tymoteusz Puchacz, Malachi Boateng, Rami Al Hajj, Michael Baidoo, Caleb Roberts, Freddie Issaka.

GOALS:

ARGYLE: Bundu (40, 65), Hardie (43)

SKY BLUES: Wright (45)

REFEREE: Andy Davies.

ATTENDANCE: 16,974

NEXT UP: Luton Town (a) Saturday, April 26 (12.30pm).

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