Coventry City suffered their third home defeat of the Championship season after giving up a goal lead and then conceding a stoppage time winner from Sheffield Wednesday in a disappointing afternoon at the CBS Arena.
Jack Rudoni put City in front when he controlled a ball over the top from Liam Kitching before shrugging off his marker and drilling home from outside the box with a hard and low effort to beat the keeper in the 26th minute.
The Owls, however, pulled level in first half stoppage time when Kitching gave the ball away, resulting in a swift counter attack with Jamal Lowe playing Djeidi Gassama in on the right to beat Ben Wilson at his near post in what was a really poor goal to concede just before half-time.
There were chances at either end in a frantic and wide open second half when the Sky Blues lacked a cutting edge to make their own approach play count against a well organised Wednesday back line.
And then they were the architects of their own downfall again in stoppage time when Ben Sheaf lost possession in the middle of the park and Musaba countered, playing Charles clean through to beat the keeper and secure the full three points.
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
BEN WILSON: 5.5
Made a brilliant reaction stop to deny Charles a first half equaliser from a corner but should have done better to get across his goal for the equaliser as he was beaten at his near post. Exposed for the winner as Charles slotted home after being played clean through.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 6.5
Used his ace to excellent effect when tracing back to defend and got forward fairly well in a sluggish first half from City overall. Attempted an overhead kick that hit the side netting in the second half as he started to exert himself going forward more. Denied by the keeper
BOBBY THOMAS: 7
Dominant in the air from set pieces and crosses into the box. Read the game well, organising well at the back and playing a decent off-side trap. Plenty of blocks from crosses and got back to make a crucial sliding tackle in to the box to stop Musaba.
LIAM KITCHING: 5.5
Hero one minute, villain the next. Played a lovely ball over the top for Rudoni just before the goal but gave the ball away with a sideways header to spark a counter attack and equaliser before the break. Gave the ball away again early in the second half to invite another counter attack.
JAKE BIDWELL: 7
Made a steady but solid enough start to the game, defended really well and then got himself a yellow card for a forearm smash on Gassama after Haji had sold him short. Threw himself into crucial blocks in the box and make a key tackle midway through the second half in an end to end game where City were living dangerously. Formed off injured with ten minutes to go.
JOSH ECCLES: 5.5/6
Determined and competitive in the tackle but went down injured in the 12th minute when defending a corner and required treatment for several minutes before carrying on. Decent shift from the lad on a difficult afternoon.
BEN SHEAF: 6
Patrolled the middle of the park well, winning the ball well before looking to play through balls to spring the forwards in behind. However, lost possession in the middle of the park as Wednesday broke and scored the stoppage time winner.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 4.5
Needed to get closer to his man when tracking back to help defend but showed some nice touches going forward early on in the game but not in the game enough in the first half. Subbed and replaced by Simms in the 57th minute. Disappointing by his standards.
JACK RUDONI: 7
Worked hard as usual and attempted to play the occasional killer through ball and received a lovely ball over the top from Kitching before shaking off Shea Charles to find space to drill home from just outside the box to give City a 26th lead. Decent set-piece deliveries.
HAJI WRIGHT: 5.5/6
Sent a hard and low shot just wide of the far post in the fifth minute in a fairly quiet first 45 when his tracking back could have been better. Came to life and more of a threat after the break when he headed onto the top of the crossbar from a corner, having raced into the box and won the flag kick. But, overall, not enough form one of City’s star men.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 5.5/6
Made some good runs, always looking to be played in behind, albeit beaten by the off-side trap on one early occasion. Not as effective as his midweek showing. Moved out wide when Simms went on. Needed more from him on this occasion.
SUBSTITUTES:
ELLIS SIMMS (57 mins, for Mason-Clark): 5
Put himself about up top but nothing really fell for him.
JAY DASILVA (80 mins, for Bidwell):
Subs (not used): Oliver Dovin (GK), Luis Binks, , Joel Latibeaudiere, Norman Bassette, Victor Torp, Kai Andrews, Fabio Tavares.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (3-4-2-1): James Beadle; Yan Valery, Di’Shon Bernard, Akin Famewo; Pol Valentin, Shea Charles, Barry Bannan, Max Lowe (75 mins, for Marvin Johnson); Svante Ingelsson (63 mins, for Anthony Musaba), Djeidi Gassama (75 mins, for Michael Smith); Jamal Lowe (63 mins, for Ike Ugbo).
Subs (not used): Pierce Charles (GK), Dominic Iorfa, Callum Paterson, Michael Ihiekwe, Michael Smith, Sean Fusire.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Rudoni (26)
THE OWLS: Gassama (45+2), Charles (90+3)
REFEREE: Dean Whitestone
ATTENDANCE: 28,671 (2,992 away)
NEXT UP: Preston North End (a), Saturday, October 19 (12.30pm).
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