Andy Turner’s Coventry City player ratings as the Sky Blues suffer opening day defeatCoventry City suffered an opening day defeat against Stoke in a classic game of two halves at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke headed onto the post and were denied by a good save from Oliver Dovin in the opening 25 minutes in a highly charged opening half when Mark Robins’ men struggled to find their rhythm and were lucky to go in at the break all square.
Coventry made a much improved start to the second half when they started to ask questions of the Stoke defence with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto making an impression on the right flank. However, just as the visitors were building a head of steam, aided by the arrivals of substitutes Haji Wright, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Josh Eccles, so they were hit by a sucker punch attack against the run of second half play.
Potters’ sub Lewis Baker was afforded loads of space in midfield and spread the ball wide to Million Manhoef who, in turn, slipped him into the box where he beat Dovin at his near post as Luis Binks slid in but was unable to make the block. Just seven attempts on goal and only one effort on target was simply not good enough from Coventry.
Commanded his area well and punched clear an early corner and made a decent save to deny Tezgel in the 22nd minute as Stoke started to get on top of the Sky Blues. Good distribution, sending a long and low pass to Simms to beat Stoke’s press on one occasion. Will be disappointed, however, to have been beaten by Baker at his near post.
Read the game well, intercepting loose passes and getting forward well on the attack. Defended really well and linked up nicely with Sakamoto and Rudoni, particularly in the second half.
Won his first header with plenty of aggression to set the tone for a dominant display at the back where he headed everything that came his way.
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