CRAIG HICKEY SHARES HIS PLAYER RATINGS FOR WOLVES V COVENTRY
This was difficult to write at first, like many, I was looking for positives and I have too admit I struggled.
JOSE SA 8.5 MAN OF THE MATCH
He has had some deserved stick before today but I have to say that he pulled off some great stops which would have resulted in at least 5 goals for Coventry. He claimed crosses, got his positions right and improved his distribution at times. He may have been better positioned for their 2nd goal but for me he stood out today, a top performance in a team that was lacklustre.
NELSON SEMEDO 6
Started the game well, linked up with Sarabia to produce some great attacking runs which resulted in some great opportunities that we should have done better with. A tactical change from City probably stopped him driving forward as much the second half and he seemed a little more exposed.
RAYAN AIT-NOURI 6
Started the game really poorly, got booked after 7 minutes which made things difficult for himself, too many poor touches and misplaced passes made him look a shadow of himself. In the 2nd half he played much better, a really crisp finish for his goal and an assist for the 2nd goal. A tactical switch to play him high on the left worked but it still didn’t erase his poor first half.
MAX KILMAN 5
A very mixed afternoon for Max, he seemed hesitant at times to play the diagonal ball or a forward pass. Comfortable passing sideways but struggled when he was faced with the City No.11 running at him. Looked uneasy in the penalty area with defending and didn’t close down the space for the winning goal which was similar to the late winner from Man Utd.
SANTI BUENO 5
I expected a bit more from Santi today, he has performed so well in recent games but today he was bullied by Elliot Simms. I can’t remember him winning a header and for me he struggled with the physical striker. Comfortable in possession and passing but maybe if we had Dawson in with Kilman, the bullying attackers would have met their match.
TOTI GOMES 5
The first half was not too bad for him in the attacking sense, lots of runs forward and tried to link up with Lemina and Ait Nouri but got caught out a few times by the winger who drove at him all of the first half. A game where he was another defender who struggled to impose himself in defence. Replaced by Matt Doherty on 60 minutes.
JOAO GOMES 6.5
The Pitbull got stuck in during this game in a midfield that had plenty of the ball but couldn’t find a way through the City back line. He broke up play well and tried to make things happen. Always wanting the ball and driving forward but a few opportunities to shoot came his way but he chose to pass instead. I think he may be gutted that he let O’Hare slip past him on the left in the build up to the Coventry winner.
TOMMY DOYLE 6
Tommy started the game well, demanding alot of the ball and trying to dictate the play, the options for him were limited up front but he kept spraying the ball about during the game. He had one free kick that looked destined to go in the top corner but it was a couple of inches over, another 2 or 3 yards further out and that would have been on target. Taken off on 73 minutes to allow Bueno to come on and move Lemina back into centre midfield. Replaced on 73 Minutes
MARIO LEMINA 6
Mario wasn’t his usual self today in the first half, he was linking up well with Ait Nouri on the left side and Toti, that’s not his usual position but he is trying to do a job for the team. A change of position in the second half gave him more opportunities to do his normal role, it seemed to give him confidence to drive forward but he did get caught too deep on a few occasions.
PABLO SARABIA 5
Pablo had a few forays forward and worked well with Semedo in the first half but he struggled to find the killer pass. He is our only senior forward at the moment and that seems to be weighing heavy on him. He does struggle in his defensive duties but then again he is a flair player. Not a great game for him today but didn’t stop trying to make an impact.
NATHAN FRASER 5
He was a lone front man today and it seemed to be a big burden for him, tried to win headers and hold up the ball but he was always out muscled. He had two half chances to poke the ball towards the goal but it just didn’t go for him today, lets not forget he is only 19 and doesn’t have much first team experience. He worked hard and he will learn alot from today. Replaced on 60 minutes
Matt Doherty - 5 (60 mins)
Made some good challenges for headers and used the ball well when he was in possession, didn’t have much impact on the game as he wasn’t able to drive forward enough.
HUGO Bueno - 5.5 (73 mins)
Came on in the second half to slip into the left back position to allow Ait Nouri to play higher up the pitch. A lovely finish for his goal after running onto an Ait Nouri pass. He looked comfortable on the ball and did the basics right.
Leon Chiwome - (5) 60 mins
A good introduction for the youngster who looked lively and has some pace, took up some good positions and didn’t look out of place in the team. He had some good touches and linked up well with the team, a young man who could have a bright future at the club.
Overall the team just didn’t perform well enough over the 90 minutes, credit to Coventry who took their chances, well 3 of the hatful they had. Lets get some bodies back in the team and push on for 7th in the league, surely this result will hurt and drive the group on.
ARTICLE BY CRAIG HICKEY
A 53 year old season ticket holder in the Steve Bull stand. Go along with my two young lads who love the Wolves and so far, the positive times. Long may it continue.
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