Coventry City player ratings as Kieffer Moore too hot for Sky Blues to handle

A second half Kieffer Moore hat-trick put and end to leaders Coventry City’s unbeaten start to the season and denied them a record breaking seventh consecutive league win.

The Wrexham target man was simply too hot to handle for the Sky Blues who saw their first half lead from Ephron Mason-Clark evaporate in the space of 23 second half minutes.

City took the lead in the 22nd minute from a lovely move that saw Tatsuhiro Sakamoto hit a deep cross into the box where Mason-Clark timed his run to perfection to sweep home at the near post.

The goal came just minutes after Carl Rushworth had denied Lewis O’Brien at the other end, sticking out his left boot to block what looked to be a shot heading for the back of the net in an end to end start to the match.

The keeper denied O’Brien again when he got down low at his near post before Frank Lampard’s men wasted a three free-kicks within range before the break when Matt Grimes curled wide, Haji Wright slammed into the wall and Brandon Thomas-Asante lifted over the bar.

The home side, however, grew in confidence and momentum after the break when a period of sustained pressure resulted in a deserved equaliser when Josh Windass sent in a deep cross to the far post for Moore to pull his side level on the hour.

The big target man then put the Reds in front nine minutes later when the two players combined for a second time, Windass hitting another diagonal cross to the far post for the Wales international to head home past Rushworth.

And Moore completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute when he was played in behind and slotted past the keeper.

Sakamoto then reduced the deficit to 3-2 with two minutes remaining making for a frantic end to the game but Wrexham held firm to take the win.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 5.5/6

Made a really good reaction save with his left boot to deny Lewis O’Brien an early goal and again five minutes from the break when the midfielder hit a hard and low effort to the near post. Finally beaten by a good finish from Moore and then again by the unmarked target man with his head for the second. Exposed for the third when Moore was played in behind.

KAINE KESLER-HAYDEN: 5.5

In for the suspended Milan van Ewijk in a straight swap at right-back, getting forward to support Sakamoto on the overlap and defending well in the first half. City were too exposed in the second half with all three goals being converted down that side.

LUKE WOOLFENDEN: 5.5/6

Made a rare start in place of the injured Bobby Thomas at the heart of a back four and slotted in seamlessly, reading the game well with good positioning in the first half. Made a brilliant tackle in the box to dispossess Windass in the second half but Moore scored three times from his side of the box.

LIAM KITCHING: 5.5/6

Read the game well and kept the ball well under pressure, making several clearances in the box to cut out crosses. Had a niggling night with Moore at times that spilled out off the ball, resulting in both being booked.

JAKE BIDWELL: 5.5/6

Made his first league start of the season at left-back in place of Dasilva who is recovering from illness but on the bench and took his usual no-nonsense approach to defending. Had his work cut out trying to keep tabs on winger Kabore.

MATT GRIMES: 6

Constantly made himself available to receive the ball as he controlled the middle of the park early on and detailed to man mark Kieffer Moore from set-pieces. Less effective after the break when Wrexham piled on the pressure.

JAMIE ALLEN: 5.5/6

Covered lots of ground in a congested midfield, nipping in on second balls and tracking runners but eventually made way for fresh legs after City were overpowered in midfield and at the back.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 7

Drifted centrally at times and quick to get City up the pitch on the counter attack and got at his marker from out wide to provide a decent outlet down that flank. Lively throughout, showing some lovely skill at times and sent in a brilliant deep cross for Mason-Clark to score. Scored with a terrific shot from outside the box to reduce the scoreline to 3-2.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 5

Provided plenty of energy and running but didn’t really get a look-in on goal in the first half until a late free-kick which he lifted over the wall and bar just before the break.

EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 6.5/7

Took time to make an impact down the left but lit the sky blue touch paper in the 22nd minute with a brilliantly timed run to connect with Sakamoto’s deep cross to stroke home to give City the lead.

HAJI WRIGHT: 5

Worked hard up front but well marshalled by Dom Hyam who limited the USA striker’s threat considerably in a frustrating first half when his only attempt on goal was from a free-kick which he slammed into the wall.

SUBSTITUTES:

ELLIS SIMMS (67 mins, for Wright): 5

Put himself about and used his strength to good effect.

VICTOR TORP (67 mins, for Thomas-Asante):

JOSH ECCLES (73 mins, for Allen):

JAY DASILVA (73 mins, for Bidwell):

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

WREXHAM (3-5-1-1): Arthur Okonkwo; Max Cleworth, Dom Hyam, Dan Scarr; Issa Kabore, Matty James, Ben Sheaf, Lewis O’Brien, Liberato Cacace; Josh Windass; Kieffer Moore.

Subs (not used): Callum Burton (GK), Conor Coady, James McClean, Ryan Hardie, George Thomason, George Dobson, Sam Smith, Nathan Broadhead, Ryan Longman.

GOALS:

RED DRAGONS: Moore (60, 69, 83)

SKY BLUES: Mason-Clark (22), Sakamoto (88)

REFEREE: Elliot Bell

ATTENDANCE: 10,617 (1,291 Cov)

NEXT UP: Sheffield United (h) Tuesday, November 4 (8pm).

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