Coventry City’s Andy Turner’s player ratings as rookie striker shines in comfortable comeback win

Coventry City came from a goal down to overcome League One Stevenage with a comfortable 3-1 pre-season win at the Lamex Stadium.

The Sky Blues fell behind in just the second minute when the home side broke down the left wing and pulled the ball back to Dan Phillips just outside the D, leaving the attacking midfielder time and space to fire home a powerful shot past Brad Collins.

But young striker Justin Obikwu pulled the visitors back level when he won a penalty after being brought down by the keeper in the 18th minute, then converted from 12 yards with a pinpoint finish. Bobby Thomas then extended the lead three minutes later when he got on the end of a Josh Eccles corner, sending a near post header into the back stick.

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Obikwu then turned provider just before the break to set up Fabio Tavares, who hit a delightful first-time shot into the top corner to make it 3-1 in the 43rd minute.

Mark Robins made big changes in the 66th minute after Ben Sheaf limped off injured and Ephron Mason-Clark was denied a fourth for City when a header from the far post was brilliantly saved by the Stevenage keeper and clear host of the match.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-1-3

BRAD COLLINS:

Beaten by and hit hard and low from distance, but to be fair, could very well have been missed by the players in front of him. He pinched in a threatening free-kick on the stroke of half-time, having very little to do for the most part. He stooped down to deny Phillips time.

JACK BURROUGHS:

Strong, quick and physical, the 23-year-old slotted in at right-back. Great pace and looks a real athlete after his year at Lincoln.

BOBBY THOMAS:

Headed in near the post from a Josh Eccles corner to give City the lead on 22 minutes. Defended quite well as City grew into the game and came to dominate the first half.

LIAM KITCHEN:

I locked in and read the game well with lots of blocks and clearances. The opening goal aside, he organized the back four well alongside Thomas. He had a second-half break when he misread a deep ball and was beaten by forward Jordan Roberts, who raced through but was unable to finish.

JAY DASILVA:

Dropped into a 50-50 attack early and sent some quality deliveries.

JOSH ECCLES:

He took the captain’s armband and organized himself well in the midfield role. Sent into the near post corner for Thomas to score.

KAI ANDREWS:

Worked hard and fought well to win possession in midfield.

JAMIE ALLEN:

Impressed in a more advanced midfield role, playing the ball wide and linking up well with the forwards.

FABIO TAVARES:

Lively and full of tricks, twists and turns wide to the right of the front three and offers a decent threat. He hit a sublime first-time shot into the top corner to extend City’s lead before the break. Showed good pace and movement.

JUSTIN OBIKWU:

The young striker slotted in quite well up front where he showed good strength and movement. And his non-stop running earned City a penalty in the 18th minute when he was brought down by the keeper and then coolly slotted home from 12 yards. He turned provider just before half-time when he set up Tavares for City’s third.

AIDAN DAUSCH:

Deployed in a front three, the 18-year-old development striker almost got on the scoresheet just after the half-hour when he got on the end of a Jamie Allen cross and headed home, only for to be denied by a good team save. goalkeeper.

SUBSCRIBERS:

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (60 minutes, for Tavares):

He received a warm welcome from the fans, looked lively and came close to adding to the score.

BEN WILSON (66 mins, for Collins):

MILAN VAN EWIJK (66, for Burroughs):

JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE (66, for Thomas):

LUIS BINKS (66, for Kitching):

JAKE BIDWELL (66, for Dasilva):

He almost scored when he entered the box and hit the side netting.

BEN SHEAF (66, for Andrews):

He was injured within minutes of being on the field after making a recovering tackle and limped off shortly after.

JACK RUDONI (66, for Eccles):

Exciting on the ball, makes things happen and will be a real crowd pleaser.

KASY PALMER (66, for Allen):

Lively, full of energy and tricks. It looked like a threat.

EPHRON MASON-CLARK (66, for Dausch):

Denied a header at the far post with a brilliant save.

ELLIS SIMMS (66, for Obikwu):

RYAN HOWLEY (76 minutes, for the injured bundle):

STEVENAGE: Triallist; Luther James-Wildin, Carl Piergianni, Dan Sweeney, Nick Freeman, Jordan Roberts, Lewis Freestone, Harvey White, Dan Phillips, Luois Appere, Dan Kemp.

Subs (not used): Rylee Mitchell, Nathan Thompson, Kane Smith, Terrence Vancooten, Elliott List, Trialist, Ben Thompson, Makise Evans, David Hicks, Ryan Doherty, Owen Cochrane.

OBJECTIVES:

STEVENAGE: Phillips (2)

SKY BLUES: Obikwu (18), Thomas (21), Tavares (42)

Referee: Will Davis.

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