As we examine some of the key talking points from the Sky Blues’ 2-1 loss against Ipswich Town, we present Coventry City match analysis from CoventryLve.
With Ipswich having the best home record in the division and having won nine league games at Portman Road this season, Coventry City’s mini-resurrection came to an abrupt end in one of the Championship’s most difficult road journeys.
With their two greatest players gone, the Sky Blues are still a ghost of last season’s squad, so it was always going to be a difficult task for them as their consistency and resolve are put to the test by constant personnel changes and adjustments. This time, to use Mark Robins’ words, his revamped team “came up short” against a lower-tier contender who appears deserving of their current position in the Premier League’s automatic promotion slots.
Here, we examine some of the key talking points and lessons from the 2-1 loss in Suffolk on Saturday.
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Far too easy to anticipate
The pregame mantra for Mark Robins’ team was to match the energy of their opponents. But regrettably, Ipswich seemed to be the superior team from the start and took the lead early on thanks to a goal, thus this game ended all too predictably in the form book. Wes Burns’ spectacular shot gave the home team their second halftime advantage, and they used the opportunity to make much-needed team changes and a halftime lecture. But in the 73rd minute, a much-improved City let a lifeline slip away when Matty Godden missed a penalty kick, hitting the underside of the crossbar with his effort. Should it have been successful, and with City leading, it would have resulted in a tense last seventeen minutes at Portman Road, where the visitors were awarded a late consolation goal by an own goal.
Why change a winning team?
Many supporters were left perplexed as to why Mark Robins made changes to a winning squad and formation that had resulted in consecutive wins over Plymouth and Millwall. When asked about the straightforward explanation for the change from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, the City manager acknowledged that it was challenging to choose a third game of the week because strong energy levels were required. It was important to us to try to match our enthusiasm with theirs.
On the other hand, there was a case to play a back three on that particular day considering Ipswich’s agile and dangerous forward line. Kyle McFadzean was not available since he attended his mother’s funeral on Friday. However, Joel Latibeaudiere or Luis Binks might have easily been inserted into a formation that has worked effectively for the Sky Blues recently in order to help limit Town’s danger.
The newest whipping guy in town
Regarding the starting lineup, one of the more surprising decisions may have been the addition of Yasin Ayari, who was one of three players—along with Josh Eccles and Jamie Allen—who were substituted out at halftime when the Robins changed things up and went back to a 4-3-3 formation. Talented prospect Ayari made several good passes forward, the greatest of which found Haji Wright, who regrettably headed home from an off-side position. The Brighton loan, albeit not the only one in a lackluster first half from City, failed to light up the house and has since turned into something of a whipping boy among the supporters. However, it’s reasonable to argue that he’s still getting used to life in the Championship, having found it difficult to become a reliable first-choice starter for the team.
Kels disregarded as Lati reconsidered
The three half-time substitutions—Matti Godden, Tatsuhiro Sakmoto, and Joel Latibeaudiere—had an instant impact on the game as the Sky Blues tried to retake the lead while Ipswich seemed to let up. It’s interesting to note that Latibeaudiere was chosen over midfield guru Liam Kelly, whose abilities and background one would have assumed would have been perfect for a game this challenging. Just a few short weeks prior, when City was dealing with midfield injuries, Robins said that he had brought the Jamaican international in primarily as a central defender and was hesitant to use him in the position he plays for his nation. But it appears the boss has changed his mind after using him in the holding role off the bench in the last few games.
In a match that saw 15 attempts on the Ipswich goal, only one on target (from Jake Bidwell’s boot, which pushed the home keeper into his lone save), Haji Wright led the line in the first half as the lone striker but was not well-served. In fact, in recent weeks, the USA international has appeared more effective when positioned on the left side of a front three. He beat the off-side trap with reasonable technique for his disallowed goal, but it’s possible that he might have done better because he’s been caught off guard much too frequently. “He got there and got his head on it,” stated Robins. Although he appears a little more assured, it will still take him some time to reach his destination.
Ellis Simms, on the other hand, had a respectable impact when he came on late. According to statistician Jim Brown, he should have done better with a far post header that he sent wide across the goal, but he added a physical presence and helped put enough pressure on Brandon Williams for City’s late own goal, bringing Coventry’s total of own goals this season to four, one goal shy of tying a club record.
“I felt Ellis gave it his all when he went on, trying to get on the scoresheet, and he was unfortunate that Williams’ goal stood because I believe he headed the ball with his head.”Many supporters were left perplexed as to why Mark Robins made changes to a winning squad and formation that had resulted in consecutive wins over Plymouth and Millwall. When asked about the straightforward explanation for the change from 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1, the City manager acknowledged that it was challenging to choose a third game of the week because strong energy levels were required. It was important to us to try to match our enthusiasm with theirs.
On the other hand, there was a case to play a back three on that particular day considering Ipswich’s agile and dangerous forward line. Kyle McFadzean was not available since he attended his mother’s funeral on Friday. However, Joel Latibeaudiere or Luis Binks might have easily been inserted into a formation that has worked effectively for the Sky Blues recently in order to help limit Town’s danger.
The newest whipping guy in town
Regarding the starting lineup, one of the more surprising decisions may have been the addition of Yasin Ayari, who was one of three players—along with Josh Eccles and Jamie Allen—who were substituted out at halftime when the Robins changed things up and went back to a 4-3-3 formation. Talented prospect Ayari made several good passes forward, the greatest of which found Haji Wright, who regrettably headed home from an off-side position. The Brighton loan, albeit not the only one in a lackluster first half from City, failed to light up the house and has since turned into something of a whipping boy among the supporters. However, it’s reasonable to argue that he’s still getting used to life in the Championship, having found it difficult to become a reliable first-choice starter for the team.
Kels disregarded as Lati reconsidered
The three half-time substitutions—Matti Godden, Tatsuhiro Sakmoto, and Joel Latibeaudiere—had an instant impact on the game as the Sky Blues tried to retake the lead while Ipswich seemed to let up. It’s interesting to note that Latibeaudiere was chosen over midfield guru Liam Kelly, whose abilities and background one would have assumed would have been perfect for a game this challenging. Just a few short weeks prior, when City was dealing with midfield injuries, Robins said that he had brought the Jamaican international in primarily as a central defender and was hesitant to use him in the position he plays for his nation. But it appears the boss has changed his mind after using him in the holding role off the bench in the last few games.
In a match that saw 15 attempts on the Ipswich goal, only one on target (from Jake Bidwell’s boot, which pushed the home keeper into his lone save), Haji Wright led the line in the first half as the lone striker but was not well-served. In fact, in recent weeks, the USA international has appeared more effective when positioned on the left side of a front three. He beat the off-side trap with reasonable technique for his disallowed goal, but it’s possible that he might have done better because he’s been caught off guard much too frequently. “He got there and got his head on it,” stated Robins. Although he appears a little more assured, it will still take him some time to reach his destination.
Ellis Simms, on the other hand, had a respectable impact when he came on late. According to statistician Jim Brown, he should have done better with a far post header that he sent wide across the goal, but he added a physical presence and helped put enough pressure on Brandon Williams for City’s late own goal, bringing Coventry’s total of own goals this season to four, one goal shy of tying a club record.
“I felt Ellis gave it his all when he went on, trying to get on the scoresheet, and he was unfortunate that Williams’ goal stood because I believe he headed the ball with his head.”
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