The 5 men who could make all the difference for City...
COVENTRY City will head to Wembley later this week knowing they are just one match away from a potential return to the Premier League.
After a 22-year absence, the Sky Blues have never been closer to getting back to the top flight after securing a fifth-place Championship finish to the regular season before booking their place in the play-off final after edging out fourth-placed Middlesbrough over two legs in the semis.
Third placed Luton Town now stand in their way. With two contrasting styles of football – the Hatters big, physical and aerially dominant; Coventry slick, ball playing and easier on the eye – it will make for a fascinating contest to see who wins the biggest prize in football. Here we take a look at five key Sky Blues players who could make all the difference on the day...
BEN WILSON
With 22 clean sheets to his name, City’s wise-cracking Mackem has cemented his place as Mark Robins’ first choice keeper this season – remarkably the first full campaign of his professional career. But at the age of 30, Wilson’s time to shine has come this term, playing his part in the Sky Blues’ success so far and earning the golden glove award as well as being named in the EFL’S team of the season.
Although helped and protected by an outstanding back three in front of him, Wilson has also pulled off big saves when required – none more so than when he tipped Chuba Akpom’s early effort onto the crossbar and denied Isaiah Jones at his near post in the play-off semi-final first leg at the CBS Arena when Middlesbrough looked the most likely side to score.
Alert to danger, able to kick well and command his box, Wilson distributes the ball out swiftly and effectively from the back and will have to be right on top of his game on Saturday, particularly from set-pieces, in order to deal with Town’s big centre-forwards Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris, who stand at 6ft 4 and 6ft 2 respectively. One of the characters of the dressing room, Wilson is bubbly and positive and will hopefully have the game of his life at the weekend.
KYLE MCFADZEAN
City’s no-nonsense centre-back has had a superb season at the heart of the back three and is, quite simply, the glue that holds the exceptional trio together. His experience, footballing nous, physical presence and strength have been invaluable in dealing with some of the division’s top goal scorers, not least Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer in the play-off semi-finals, with his trusty sidekicks Luke Mcnally to his right and Callum Doyle to the left.
A veteran and master of the dark arts, Fadz is the man Sky Blues fans want in the trenches when the club faces a big and aerially dominant Luton side who will pose such a threat from set-pieces. The 36-year-old is a natural leader who has worn the skipper’s armband for most of the season in Liam Kelly’s absence, and organises City’s back line to great effect while heading, blocking and mopping up the danger with aggression and determination to be first to the ball. He reads the game brilliantly and will be a key figure in Saturday’s physical battle with the
Hatters.
LIAM KELLY
The Sky Blues captain has been outstanding since being drafted back into the side at Blackburn, when he deputised for the injured Ben Sheaf. And while there is a strong case to pick the former Arsenal prospect as one of
City’s key men this weekend, which he will be, it will be the work that the elder statesman Kelly does alongside him that will allow Sheaf to flourish – not least by picking out killer passes like he did in the second leg at the Riverside that led to Gus Hamer’s match winning goal. The 33-year-old has shown that he’s still supremely fit despite missing much of the campaign to injury and being overlooked by the manager, but he has been making up for lost time with consistently impressive performances in the holding midfield role. He’s the perfect screen for the back three, covering acres of ground and getting a foot in here, a tackle in there and generally getting in the opposition’s faces to break up their rhythm and play.
Like Sheaf, he also makes excellent use of the ball, rarely wasting possession, and has the ability to pick the perfect pass to spark attacks. He’s been skipper for several seasons now, commands huge respect from his teammates and his experience and leadership will be invaluable on the big Wembley stage, his second appearance there in a City shirt and the only surviving member of the League Two play-off campaign. His game management could be key if Coventry find themselves sitting on a narrow lead.
With two contrasting styles – the Hatters physical and aerially dominant; Coventry slick and easier on the eye – it will make for a fascinating contest.
GUSTAVO HAMER
One of the first names on the team sheet, Hamer is among the best allround midfielders in the Championship. He has enjoyed outstanding form and played a pivotal role in City’s late
push for the play-offs with four goals and four assists in the final seven games including, of course, the sublime winner against Boro.
Although given a more attacking brief in recent weeks in the absence of a natural No 10, Hamer is such a good player that he almost has licence to roam, popping up all over the pitch. He can be driving forward into the opposition box one minute, back defending in his own half the next. A deep lying play-maker by trade, Hamer was deployed at the top of a midfield box in the second leg at Boro – a tactic that worked to brilliant effect alongside the non-stop Jamie Allen.
His set-piece deliveries could be key, whether it’s sending in flag kicks with pin-point accuracy, as he did for Ben Wilson’s late equaliser at Blackburn, or posing a goal threat from free-kicks, as he did when he thumped the bar at the Riverside. The Dutchbrazilian
is irreplaceable and the one stand-out player who makes City tick.
He oozes quality and is a joy to watch, and City fans can rest assured he’ll play a major role this weekend. With 10 goals to his name this season, he’s a match winner and the man Luton will be desperate to keep quiet.
VIKTOR GYOKERES
The big and powerful striker has taken his game to another level this season by hitting 21 Championship goals. Singled out by virtually every manager against the Sky Blues this season, Gyokeres is so strong on the ball that most instruct their defenders to double up on him while also employing roughhouse tactics to knock him off his stride or drag him to the ground – any way to stop him.
On his day, Gyokeres is simply unplayable, and City will need the Sweden international at his best if they are to prosper against the Hatters. At his most dangerous and effective when running at defenders with the ball at his feet, the 24-year-old also has the ability to turn most centre-backs inside out before picking his spot from in and around the box.
Although closely marshalled in recent weeks, not least by Boro’s impressive central defensive pairing, Gyokeres has contributed with assists, not least Hamer’s winner in the second leg. So, if he’s not actually scoring, he’s still very much contributing to City’s overall goal threat.
But let’s not forget the role he could play from set-pieces at the other end on Saturday. Given Luton’s aerial dominance, Gyokeres will be back to help defend corners and free-kicks as well as being City’s key attacking outlet and goal threat who will hopeful strike fear into Luton’s backline and prove too hot to handle on the day.