Coventry City player ratings as one man stands out in big clean sheet at Leicester

Coventry City earned a creditable draw at Midlands rivals Leicester where they gave a decent account of themselves but had their goalkeeper to thank for ultimately travelling home with a point.

City started brightly and took the attacking initiative at the King Power Stadium but Carl Rushworth was the only goalkeeper to be making saves in a tight first half – and made a brilliant one v one block after the break to deny the hosts.

Jack Rudoni went closest for the Sky Blues in the opening 45 with a header that he sent wide but Rushworth dropped to his left to make two really good saves to deny the Foxes taking the lead.

Abdul Fatawu was a particular thorn in Coventry’s side, having the beating of Jay Dasilva down the right, but Frank Lampard’s men got to half-time on level terms, having enjoyed their fair share of the ball and pressure, albeit unable to really test Jakub Stolarczyk in the opposition goal.

That changed in the opening minutes of the second period when Rudoni was played into the box on the right and hit a hard and low effort that the keeper saved well, while Haji Wright was played into the box but dragged his shot wide at the far post.

Rushworth came to the rescue again just before the hour when he made himself big to deny Mavididi in a one on one in the box. And despite mounting pressure from the home side, Coventry hung on to secure an impressive clean sheet.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 8.5

Dropped low to make a comfortable save to deny Fatawu an early chance and made an excellent save with his finger tips to push a Jordan James shot out for a corner. Made another good save to his left to deny Mavididi before the break. Made himself big to deny a one on one with Mavididi with his legs. Man of the match.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 6.5/7

Used his pace to good effect to keep Mavididi in check as much as he could and linked up nicely with Sakamoto going forward. Faced a different challenge after the break when he was tasked to mark lively teenager Monga.

BOBBY THOMAS: 7.5

Got on the end of a Matt Grimes’ cross to head at the keeper as he provided a threat in the opposition box. Made a crucial and well timed tackle to dispossess Mavididi in the box after the Foxes cut through City on 26 minutes and threw himself into block after block to keep Leicester at bay. Read the game really well to make key interceptions. Terrific game.

LIAM KITCHING: 7

Organised the back four but needed to get City’s off-side trap tighter after Leicester sprang free a couple of times early on. Defended well overall to play his part in the clean sheet.

JAY DASILVA: 5

Was skinned early on by Fatawu for an early Leicester chance and had his work cut out keeping tabs on the very real threat down his side, who did him again on the half hour mark. Linked up nicely with Thomas-Asante going forward. Eventually went in the book for fouling Fatawu.

MATT GRIMES: 7

Made plenty of blocks and interceptions to help break up Leicester’s midfield play and helped play an important part in defending in an often testing first half. Defended really well again after the break amid end to end action.

VICTOR TORP: 5.5/6

Work-man-like and efficient in the middle of the park in a tight game full of running and tracking. Unable to make a significant impact in the final third but decent shift.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 6

Lively from the start, nicking balls off opponents and making darting runs with the ball and getting it into the box. Faded after the break when he was replaced by Allen.

JACK RUDONI: 7.5

Got on the end of a Sakamoto cross to head wide for an early City chance and provided a real attacking threat for the Sky Blues, drifting left and right to help move the ball into the danger area. Forced the keeper into his first real save of the game early in the second half with a hard and low effort from the right.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 6

Deployed wide on the left in place of the injured Mason-Clark and was busy and lively going forward without being able to find a way through. Good shift throughout.

HAJI WRIGHT: 6

Worked hard leading the line but chances were few and far between in the first half but the striker pressed well and helped defend City’s box from set-pieces. Dragged a really good chance wide of the far post when played in by Dasilva.

SUBSTITUTES:

JAKE BIDWELL (69 mins, for Dasilva): 6.5

Got stuck in with some no-nonsense defending to help keep things tight at the back amid mounting pressure.

JOSH ECCLES (76 mins, for Torp): 5.5

Neat and tidy on his return to the side.

JAMIE ALLEN (76 mins, for Sakamoto): 5.5

Helped keep things tight with his energy and tactical discipline.

ELLIS SIMMS (85 mins, for Wright): 5.5

Put himself about well and worked hard.

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Luke Woolfenden, Miguel Angel Brau, Kai Andrews, Callum Perry.

LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Jakub Stolarczyk; Ricardo Pereira (69 mins, for Hamza Choudhury), Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard, Luke Thomas; Boubakary Soumare, Harry Winks; Abdul Fatawu, Jordan James (69 mins, for Julian Carranza), Stephy Mavididi (63 mins, for Jeremy Monga); Jordan Ayew (88 mins, for Patson Daka).

Subs (not used): Asmir Begovic (GK), Caleb Okoli, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Victor Kristiansen, Oliver Skipp.

GOALS:

FOXES:

SKY BLUES:

REFEREE: Oliver Langford

ATTENDANCE: 30,857 (3,287 Coventry)

NEXT UP: Birmingham City (h) Saturday, September 27 (12.30pm).

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