Coventry City player ratings v Blackburn Rovers as quick

Two virtually identical goals in the space of two second half minutes from Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante sent Coventry City back to the top of the Championship with another three points.

Free-scoring Sky Blues found openings hard to come by in a sloppy and frustrating first half against a determined Blackburn Rovers at the CBS Arena, but Frank Lampard’s men turned the screw after the break to assert their authority with a quick-fire double.

It was a far cry from the opening half when the home side’s best chances saw Ephron Mason-Clark test the goalkeeper for the first time as early as the fifth minute when he cut inside and hit a hard and low effort that Balazs Toth dropped down low to save, while Thomas-Asante glanced a near post header wide from a free-kick minutes later as the home side looked for an early goal in a frantic start to the game.

Matt Grimes had a powerful half volley blocked but Rovers went close themselves eight minutes from the break when Japanese striker Yuki Ohashi had a directed header cleared from close range by Milan van Ewijk. Carl Rushworth then made an impressive save at his near post to deny Axel Hendriksson as the visitors looked the stronger of the two sides going into half-time.

But Coventry upped their game after the break when Mason-Clark caused problems down the left flank, sending a threatening ball into the area which was headed clear, only for Torp to thump it first time into the ground and past the stranded Toth to give City a 57th minute lead.

Mason-Clark was then fed again two minutes later, the winger sending in another dangerous centre which was again headed clear but only as far as the D where Thomas-Asante hit another first time shot hard and low into the bottom corner to secure the full three points.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 7

Rarely troubled in the first half when he kicked reasonably well and commanded his area. Made his first save in the 40th minute to deny Hendriksson at his near post.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 7

Defended really well from high balls into the box from set-pieces and open play and got forward well on the overlap, albeit his crosses lacked quality in the first half.

BOBBY THOMAS: 7.5

Defended well, heading and blocking and getting his positioning right early on to thwart Rovers’ advances. Good under pressure, particularly in the first half.

LIAM KITCHING: 7

Read the game well, intercepting and sniffing out danger early but guilty of giving the ball away early on a couple of times, albeit not the only offender.

JAY DASILVA: 5.5/6

A bit hit and miss to start with, giving away possession twice in the opening ten minutes and got his positioning wrong a few times as Rovers exploited the space down their right.

MATT GRIMES: 7.5

Got his foot in here, there and everywhere to help mop up at the back while acting as a driving force getting City up the pitch on the attack. Had a powerful shot blocked

VICTOR TORP: 7.5

Back in the side for Jamie Allen, the Dane put himself about well, working hard to intercept and win the ball in the midfield battleground. Hit a lovely shot on the half volley to give City the second half lead from just outside the box.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 5.5/6

Took time to get into the game, forced to track back to help defend and closely monitored when going forward. Had a hand in Torp’s goal with a ball out to Mason-Clark for the cross.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 7.5

Deployed in the number ten role and nicked in to steal possession and fed his fellow forwards with his lively presence in the opening ten minutes after which he had limited touches of the ball. Came to life after the break when he scored a superb second goal with a lovely first time shot from inside the D.

EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 8

Tested the keeper early on with a hard and low shot and looked a real threat down the left with the ball at his feet and had a hand in both second half goals when he crossed from the left to force clearances that fell to City’s scorers to thump home from just outside the box.

HAJI WRIGHT: 5.5/6

Strong in possession, using his body to protect the ball and out-muscle opponents while working really hard tracking back but never had a look-in on goal in the first 45 minutes. Understandably tired and made way for Simms just after the hour.

SUBSTITUTES:

ELLIS SIMMS (62 mins, for Wright): 7

Strong in possession and full of hard running with and without the ball, making a good impact. Chased lost causes and had the fans singing his name.

JAMIE ALLEN (72 mins, for Mason-Clark): 6

Neat and tidy in a tightened up midfield to see out the game.

KAINE KESLER-HAYDEN (86 mins, for Sakamoto):

KAI AMDREWS (86 mins, for Torp):

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Luke Woolfenden, Jake Bidwell, Miguel Angel Brau, George Shepherd.

BLACKBURN ROVERS (3-4-1-2): Balazs Toth; Lewis Miller (Kristi Montgomery, 80), Scott Wharton, Sean McLoughlin; Ryan Alebiosu, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Sondre Tronstad, Ryan Hedges (Dion De Neve, 63); Axel Hendriksson (Sidnei Tavares, 71); Yuki Ohashi (Makhtar Gueye, 63), Andri Gudjohnsen (Augustus Kargbo, 63).

Subs (not used): Aynsley Pears (GK), Ribeiro, Ryoya Morishita, Adam Forshaw.

GOALS:

SKY BLUES: Torp (57), Thomas-Asante (59)

ROVERS:

REFEREE: Sam Allison

ATTENDANCE: 29,606 (1,240 away)

NEXT UP: Portsmouth (a), Tuesday, October 21 (7.45pm).

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