Sideways Sammy

Coventry City went down to yet another league defeat at Deepdale as a late second-half goal was the difference between the two teams.

In an end-to-end first-half, Preston North End had the better chances, with Oliver Dovin called into action to make two great saves from Emil Riis Jakobsen to keep the scores level at half-time. The Sky Blues improved slightly after the break, with Josh Eccles and Norman Bassette lacking the conviction to pounce on early errors from the opposing back-line to put their team ahead.

Instead, it was Preston North End who found the breakthrough, when Coventry City failed to clear a corner, leaving Robbie Brady free in the penalty area to curl in a shot that was nodded in by Emil Riis for the home side. Death, taxes etc…

The Sky Blues probably should have left with a point, however, with Haji Wright denied a late equaliser when the referee adjudged him to have handled the ball. Freddie Woodman in the opposing goal was then on hand to produce an excellent save to keep out a powerful Bobby Thomas header in second-half stoppage time, making it five defeats in the last six for Coventry City.

A Change In Shape

After persisting with 4-2-3-1 throughout the first league games of the season, Mark Robins finally tried something different, moving to a 3-5-2 shape for this game. While there were aspects of the performance that were better here, it contributed to a scrappy, end-to-end match where neither side managed to sustain pressure for long spells.

On the positive side, having two in attack have Coventry City both energy and physicality up top that allowed them to move quicker from back to front. Had Ellis Simms nodded in Jay Dasilva’s first-half cross or had Norman Bassette early in the second-half when he pounced on some loose play at the back either scored or squared the ball for Simms, Mark Robins may have been reflecting on a successful change up.

That pairing of Ellis Simms and Norman Bassette in attack is potentially something for the team to build upon. With Bassette running the hard yards in the channels to close defenders down and keep opponents on their toes, allowing Ellis Simms to focus more purely on being a presence in the penalty area, the two seem to complement each other’s style of play.

There was further promise from Jack Rudoni playing on the left of a midfield three, making some good runs to support the attack and drifting wide to play Jay Dasilva in from the wing-back position. That was what led to Ellis Simms’ first-half chance, but the Sky Blues never really had enough of the ball to look to build on that area of promise.

Additionally, having Joel Latibeaudiere acting as effectively a sweeper in the middle of the back three allowed Bobby Thomas and Luis Binks to be a little more aggressive in their physical duels, knowing they had some cover behind them. While Preston North End caused a few problems pressing Coventry City, Latibeaudiere’s comfort on the ball also helped the Sky Blues build from the back, freeing Thomas and Binks to step into midfield, on occasion.

A major downside to the change in formation, however, was that it completely stymied Milan van Ewijk, who has probably been Coventry City’s best player this season. While the transition from attack-minded full-back to wing-back should be a straightforward one, Van Ewijk excels in playing quick combinations to get up the pitch. At wing-back, those opportunities were rarely afforded to him, with Josh Eccles a less dynamic presence on the right of the midfield three than Jack Rudoni was on the left.

Additionally, Coventry City’s midfield three struggled to impose themselves when the team was out of possession. Too often, Preston North End were able to play easy passes to bypass the Sky Blues’ midfield completely and get themselves into dangerous positions. Preston were rarely forced to play slow and try to find a way through Coventry, with no-one out of Jack Rudoni, Ben Sheaf or Josh Eccles seeming to take the responsibility as the holding midfield player or looking to get in the faces of the opposition and impose themselves.

Whether it was down to the system or just those players not having a particularly good game is a matter of debate. The 3-5-2 system requires an energetic midfield to cover the ground between the defence and attack and this wasn’t a particularly energetic display in the middle from Coventry City. It made for an end-to-end game and one that favoured the opposition.

Set-Pieces A Key Missing Factor

If the hope is for Coventry City to keep things tight to edge their way into form, a key issue is the lack of a presence this team seems to have when defending set-pieces. It makes it so much harder to soak up pressure or eke out points when the team starts to feel that whenever it concedes a set-piece, the opposition could well be about to score.

While Oliver Dovin otherwise had a pretty good game between the sticks for Coventry City, his inability to command his box from set-pieces contributed to the overall nerviness. There were a few occasions where the Swede went to punch the ball and got nowhere near it, which encouraged Preston North End to surround him with bodies and probably contributed to how deep the team began to drop from first and second balls, due to that lack of confidence in the goalkeeper claiming the ball in.

Moreover, this team really seems to lack anyone with authority from headers, save for maybe Bobby Thomas. Even if the team is able to win the first contact, it is rarely a commanding header that clears the lines but one that allows the opposition to continue to build pressure. Even if the team isn’t conceding directly from the first ball in, opponents are able to seize on second and third balls as opportunities to threaten the goal.

Preston North End’s winning goal came from the confluence of Oliver Dovin failing to command his penalty area and reacting slowly and uncertainly to the pressure that led to. Coventry City were forced to pack the six-yard box with bodies to protect their goalkeeper and while they won the first header, it was weak and then not only was no-one really in position to deal with the second ball in from Robbie Brady but both Jack Rudoni and Brandon Thomas-Asante dithered in attempting to close down the cross, unable or unwilling to take charge of the situation.

If Coventry City had been able to defend set-pieces here, they would have been reflecting on a first positive performance from the summer signing in goal, just a second clean sheet of the season and they could well have gone on to nick the game, probably having been in the ascendancy in the second-half. Instead, it’s another inquest into what this team is failing to get right. This is something that needs to be worked on in training as a priority.

Losing With A Whimper

Did Haji Wright handle the ball for his disallowed goal? It is hard to tell but Preston North End’s players made sure they gave their opinion on the matter, while Coventry City accepted the decision with little complaint. Perhaps it was the right call, but it is emblematic of the lack of fire in this Sky Blues side currently that they allowed another crucial moment in a game pass them by in this manner.

The lack of reaction to the decision from Haji Wright in particular is mystifying. Any striker worth their salt should be absolutely livid when a goal is taken away from them, Wright just seemed to shrug his shoulders and get on with it. While it may have been because he knew the handball decision was the correct one, Wright allowed the opportunity to add a goal to his record pass him by through his passivity.

As much as referees should be strong and make decisions based on their own eyes, when he was presented by one side absolutely adamant there was a handball and another side looking dispassionately nonplussed, it was understandable why the decision went against Coventry City.

Furthermore, Preston North End could have been reduced to ten-men early in the second-half when a carded Ryan Ledson made a cynical foul to break up a counter-attack. Again, Coventry City accepted what could have been a game-changing decision and moved on with the game. As much as it’s not in the spirit of the game to argue with referees, and can take the attention away from actually playing football, this isn’t a sport decided by the most sporting team.

It contributed to an overall sense of this team going through the motions, hoping things fall their way rather than trying to force them. From the lack of reaction to this disallowed goal, to the slew of hopeful sliced shots and lack of force in the challenge, there was a lack of conviction to Coventry City’s performance in this game. While it’s probably stems from a lack of confidence, all of these small things can add up to winning results and that confidence building again.

Currently, this Coventry City are letting games happen to them rather than imposing their will on proceedings. Until that changes, it will be down to pure luck whether their form improves.