Here is Paddy’s verdict on David Wagner’s Norwich City, who were in preservation mode to protect a slender lead before Ben Gibson’s 88th minute own goal.
• Angus Gunn 7
Lay prone in his goal looking skywards after Ben Gibson inexplicably headed Milan van Ewijk’s cross past him, with the clean sheet in sight. Twice in a frantic finale from the Sky Blues he foiled Josh Eccles.
Firstly, his positioning was spot on to grasp a rising volley and then he tipped over another piledriver. Decisive in punching clear another earlier Eccles' delivery, with bodies in the way, and then drop on Kyle McFadzean’s follow up strike.
Claimed another effort from the lively Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and was alive to the threat on the counter when Haji Wright burst through in the 49th minute.
• Jack Stacey 6
Earned his assist for perseverance, when he linked with Liam Gibbs twice inside the Coventry area to square for Jon Rowe to open the scoring in the 41st minute. That marked a rare foray into the final third from the usually adventurous full back.
Drilled a deep cross for Adam Idah to attack shortly after half-time. Key defensive header to cut out a Sakamoto centre arrowing towards Wright at the back post.
• Shane Duffy 8
Numerous timely blocks and aerial duels won inside his own penalty box. Slid behind the diving Gunn to clean up van Ewijk's angled low finish that might just have been veering wide of the far post. Kept Ellis Simms bottled up for the most part with his reading of the game and anticipation.
Midway through the opening period those defensive instincts thwarted a counter, after Gabby Sara and Przemyslaw Placheta had given the ball away cheaply.
Blocked another attempt from Wright in the 57th minute.
• Ben Gibson 6
Attacked van Ewijk’s driven near post cross but got his bearings and body position all wrong to end up facing Gunn’s goal, before glancing a header past his keeper.
Key block in the centre of his goal from a Jamie Allen strike. Important nick to a dropping ball Simms looked favourite to volley goalwards in the 75th minute.
Even better block to meet Simms outside his area, and get a deflection that sent the shot spiralling over Gunn’s bar.
• Sam McCallum 6
Had it all on to subdue the dangerous Sakamoto back on his old stomping ground. Needed Rowe to bail him out in the 51st minute, after he was embarrassed tight to the byline, but the Norwich goalscorer foiled Jay Dasilva.
Best attacking moment in the 12th minute was a dart into that left-sided channel, and a cross that veered across the six yard box with the sliding Idah unable to get a touch.
• Kenny McLean © 7
Used his nous on a number of occasion to disrupt Coventry counters. Anticipated a dropping Shane Duffy clearance and then got his body between the ball and Liam Kitching before tumbling inside his own area to win a pressure-relieving free kick.
Glided past his marker in the 18th minute to release Gibbs but the move fizzled out. Lovely passage of play in the 61st minute, when he took the ball under pressure in his own defensive third but clipped a pass around the corner to Rowe, and then went for the return to reverse a long crossfield ball out to McCallum.
• Gabby Sara 6
No headed goal for a third consecutive game to go with his efforts against Birmingham and Swansea in recent days. Left-footed effort skied over from 20 yards after being found by Gibbs. Sloppy passing motion with Placheta set Simms away, before Duffy closed the door.
Whipped in a ball for Idah to attack, and appeared unhappy the Irishman was a touch on his heels judging by the gesticulating arms as the ball dropped behind the goalline. At the heart of Norwich’s best counter of the second period with a progressive vertical pass to release Rowe, who darted centrally before releasing Gibbs.
• Jon Rowe 7
A seventh goal in 13 appearances this season but Wagner wanted to highlight the block on Dasilva in the second half as Coventry looked to up the ante. Three minutes in tried to punish Ben Wilson with a chip from 25 yards that flew over after the keeper's miscued clearance. One touch to control Stacey’s flick, and one to finish from close range.
With Coventry defenders’ back-pedalling he fed Gibbs, who dallied with the shooting chance opening up. Substituted not long after a poor decision to try a step over in his own half that earned him a booking when he hauled down the escaping Eccles.
• Liam Gibbs 6
Excellent work in the lead up to Norwich’s goal. Not only the initial dart but the appetite to win the ball back and the cleverness to draw two defenders and back heel for Stacey. His pressing in tandem with Idah brought an early lobbed chance for Rowe.
Pinpoint pick for Sara to rifle over first time. Needed to get his shot away before the cover defence closed in, in what proved a rare second half foray for Norwich into the home penalty area.
• Przemyslaw Placheta 6
Bright in Norwich’s front-foot opening. Led a breakout that ended with Sara slashing over. Then hooked the ball over his man to release Idah to drag a low shot at Wilson. Poor decision when he turned into trouble but Duffy had read the danger with Simms poised to break.
Back in his own box with a big defensive header in first half stoppage time, after Sakamoto helped the ball into the area.
• Adam Idah 6
Closed down Wilson to force an early error but Rowe’s chip drifted over. Tested Wilson in the sixth minute before a lunging effort trying to connect with McCallum’s cross.
On the front foot again in the 17th minute but his threaded ball intended for Rowe was intercepted. Earned the applause of his head coach for closing down Bobby Thomas midway through the opening period.
A fraction behind a Sara cross to the back post in the 49th minute. Linked with the Brazilian to set Rowe away to tee up Gibbs.
Subs
• Dimi Giannoulis (for McCallum, 63) 5
The impressive van Ewijk skipped past him in the final seconds but Duffy slid behind Gunn to block the shot.
• Tony Springett (for Placheta, 63) 4
Not able to get close enough to van Ewijk to cut out the cross Ben Gibson diverted past Gunn.
• Hwang Ui-Jo (for Idah, 76) 4
• Christian Fassnacht (for Rowe, 76) 4
• Danny Batth (for Gibbs, 87) n/a
Preserved the point deep in stoppage time, when he was well-placed inside his own six yard box to let van Ewijk’s diving close ranger header hit his upper body.
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