Football

Coventry City vs Luton Town player ratings: The Hatters reign supreme at Wembley

May 27, 2023 8:14 pm
Coventry City vs Luton Town player ratings: The Hatters reign supreme at Wembley
London, England, 27th May 2023. Luton players celebrate as Coventry miss a penalty to send them into the Premier League during the Sky Bet Championship match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture credit should read: David Klein / Sportimage - Photo by Icon sport

  • Luton Town will be playing Premier League football next season after beating Coventry City in a dramatic penalty shootout.
  • Luton led at half time thanks to a goal from Jordan Clark but Coventry responded after the break and found the equaliser through Gustavo Hamer to take the game to Extra Time.
  • Luton’s Tom Lockyer collapsed early in the first half and has subsequently been taken to hospital.

Coventry City player ratings: Hamer stars for the Blues before being forced off

Ben Wilson 7/10 – Couldn’t have done anything about the Luton goal and stood no chance against six perfect penalties in the shootout. Dealt with everything else superbly.

Luke McNally 6/10 – Struggled against Adebayo and committed too many fouls for my liking.

Kyle McFadzean 5/10 – Has been a great player in the lower leagues but struggled against Luton’s forward men. Wouldn’t have made the grade in the Premier League.

Callum Doyle 6/10 – Was rash at times but that’s to be expected from a teenager playing at Wembley.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy 7/10 – Came into the game in the second half and caused a regular threat down the right flank.

Jake Bidwell 5/10 – Didn’t really make an impact on the game and was substituted in the second half.

Gustavo Hamer 8/10 – Got the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and fully deserved his goal. Things may have turned out differently for Coventry if he hadn’t been forced off with an injury.

Ben Sheaf 6/10 – Battled hard in midfield in a game that ebbed and flowed.

Liam Kelly 6/10 – Perhaps isn’t suited to a game as stretched as this one.

Jamie Allen 5/10 – Couldn’t get into the game at all and barely saw the ball in the first half. He was sacrificed at half time as Robins changed the system.

Viktor Gyokeres 8/10 – Looks like a sensational centre forward and could comfortably cut it in the Premier League. Will be surprised if he stays at Coventry in the summer.

Substitutes

Matthew Godden 7/10 – Helped to turn the tide in the second half after being introduced in the second half. Linked up well with Hamer and Gyokeres.

Kasey Palmer 6/10 – Was a surprise substitute after previously being ruled out for the season. Only lasted 20 minutes before he was forced off himself.

Fankaty Dobo 5/10 – Did okay in extra time but missed the all-important penalty in the shootout.

Josh Eccles 6/10 – Came on too late to make an impact

Jonathan Panzo 5/10 – Came on and gifted Luton a goal only for it to be chalked off by VAR.

Luton Town player ratings: Morris and Adebayo torment the Coventry defence

Ethan Horvath 7/10 – Didn’t do anything wrong and couldn’t have stopped the equaliser after it took a slight deflection.

Gabriel Osho 6/10 – Struggled against Gyokeres throughout.

Tom Lockyer 6/10 – Came off in the first half after seemingly collapsing on the pitch. Luton have since confirmed he’s been admitted to hospital for further tests.

Amari’i Bell 7/10 – The pick of the Luton defence and kept things under control when Coventry were on top.

Cody Drameh 6/10 – Didn’t know whether to stick or twist at time but came through a rough patch well.

Alfie Doughty 6/10 – Was subbed off in the second half after failing to get into the game down the left flank.

Marvelous Nakamba 7/10 – Commanded the midfield and looked the least nervous player on the pitch at times. Took his penalty very well.

Jordan Clark 8/10 – Buzzed around the pitch throughout and deserved his goal. Perhaps unlucky to be booked for simulation.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 7/10 – As direct as ever and made a nuisance of himself.

Carlton Morris 8/10 – Linked up terrifically with Adebayo and will do well in the Premier League.

Elijah Adebayo 9/10 – Caused major problems for the Coventry defence all game. Got an assist and deserved a goal for a superb Wembley display.

Substitutes

Fred Onyedinma 6/10 – Did okay but didn’t change the game.

Luke Berry 6/10 – Came on too late to make an impact.

Joe Taylor 7/10 – Came on too late to make an impact.

Dan Pott 6/10 – Came on too late to make an impact.

Coventry City vs Luton Town Match Summary and Highlights

In a titanic tussle that lasted well well over 120 minutes, a penalty shootout was needed to separate Coventry City and Luton Town. Both sides will feel as if they could have got the job done in normal time as both of them had spells throughout where they got on top of the other.

The first half, however, was all one-way traffic in favour of Luton Town. The Hatters could have been out of sight at half time but had to just settle for the one goal via Jordan Clark. The midfielder received a cutback from Adebayo, who had done brilliantly in the channel in the first place, before taking a touch and firing it past Ben Wilson in the Coventry goal.

Coventry boss, Mark Robins, made a change at half time in an attempt to stop the one-way traffic and it had the desired effect. The Blues were on top for the majority of the second half and deservedly levelled when Gustavo Hamer slotted the ball past Ethan Horvath with 25 minutes left on the clock.

After a disallowed Luton goal in Extra time, the game went to a penalty shootout which was eventually won by Luton Town when Fankaty Dobo blazed Coventry’s sixth penalty over the crossbar. Rob Edwards can now look forward to welcoming the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool to Kenilworth Road next season.

Player of the match: Elijah Adebayo

The centre forward may not have scored as many goals as his partner Carlton Morris has this season but he was certainly the standout player on the day. He bullied the Coventry defence at times and they couldn’t live with his pace, close control and strength. He played a vital role in the Luton Town goal and he looks like a player built for the Premier League. The 25-year-old is certainly one to keep an eye on next season.

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