Coventry City player ratings vs Huddersfield: Sky Blues throw away full three points at the death

Coventry City threw away the full three points when they conceded deep in stoppage time against Huddersfield Town at the CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues got themselves in front in a dominant first half when Ellis Simms intercepted the ball in between two centre-backs before hitting a thunderous shot that was tipped onto the crossbar by Lee Nicholls, with Yasin Ayari on hand to bundle in the rebound amid appeals for off-side and handball. However, replays showed that the teenager was on-side when Simms released his shot and the ball hit him in the groin, not a hand, to help it over the line.

The Terriers attempted a fight-back after the break, testing goalkeeper Ben Wilson for the first real time on the hour as Coventry headed and blocked their way out of danger amid mounting pressure from the visitors. However, the double substitution of Haji Wright and Jamie Allen helped take the sting out of Town as City started to ask questions at the other end again, albeit hanging on to their slender lead.

And that proved to be the case when centre-back Michel Helik scored from six-yards out amid Town's last attack of the game in the 95th minute to spoil what should have been a good night.

STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-1-2

BEN WILSON: 7

Not called upon in the first half at all in terms of needing to make a save as Huddersfield failed to hit a single shot on target. Alert to danger and controlled his box well. Made a decent save to deny Burgzorg on the hour as Huddersfield attempted to battle back into the game. Terrific save to deny Thomas from a free-kick.

BOBBY THOMAS: 6.5

Made a welcome return to the defence where he helped keep things tight behind Sakamoto, who is still getting to grips with the defensive side of his game. Unlucky not to score late on. Failed to clear at the other end when Town scored.

KYLE McFADZEAN: 7

Strong and organised at the heart of the back three as usual where he read the game well and made a couple of crucial tackles in the first half. Takes collective responsibility for the late goal.

Coventry City defender (on loan from Bologna) Luis Binks (2) heads the ball under pressure from Huddersfield Town defender Matty Pearson (4) during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Huddersfield Town at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry (Image: Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

LUIS BINKS: 7

Won plenty of his headers and looked composed on the left of the back three in a steady and solid performance. Defended particularly well from corners.

TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 6

Caught the eye going forward where he was tricky in possession, twisting and turning his marker inside out to get crosses into the box. Still feel there’s more to come from the summer signing in terms of a better end product or delivery.

JOSH ECCLES: 6

Took set-piece responsibility amid a string of early corners and won plenty of tackles in the middle of the park but gave away a couple of free-kicks a bit too close to City’s goal for comfort to invite pressure at a time when Town were gaining momentum.

LIAM KELLY: 6

Made a goal saving block to deny Koroma giving the visitors a 15th minute lead and helped get City forward on the counter attack in a busy and effective first half contribution. Failed to win a late header in the build up to the equaliser.

Huddersfield Town's Michal Helik (left) and Coventry City's Matthew Godden battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry. (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire.)

JAY DASILVA: 6.5

Excellent in possession, making good use of the ball and reading the game well while providing a decent outlet down the left flank.

YASIN AYARI: 7

Looked to rise to the responsibility with plenty of hard work and chasing early on and was in the right place at the right time to give City the lead from Simms’ shot off the bar which he bundled over the line. Tired a bit and less effective as the game went on.

MATTY GODDEN: 6

Deployed a little deeper than usual to start with and put in his usual hard-working shift throughout, chasing and pressing in a bid to force mistakes.

ELLIS SIMMS: 7.5

Stretched the play with some decent runs onto long balls early on in the game as he led the line well. Created the opening goal when he intercepted the ball in between two defenders and shifted onto his right foot to unleash a powerful shot that rattled the bar and bounced out for Ayari to score. Best performance yet for the Sky Blues. Earned a nice round of applause when he left the field for Wright.

Huddersfield Town's Matty Pearson and Coventry City's Ellis Simms battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire.)

SUBSTITUTES:

HAJI WRIGHT (70 mins, for Simms): 6

Provided fresh legs to help take the pressure of Town’s fight-back, getting forward well to pose new problems for the visitors’ defence.

JAMIE ALLEN (70 mins, for Ayari): 6

Provided bursts of energy to help get in Town’s faces and keep possession. Excellent cameo to help take the sting out of Town’s pressure.

JAKE BIDWELL (88 mins, for Dasilva):

JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE (88 mins, for Sakamoto):

Subs (not used): Brad Collins (GK), Liam Kitching, Marcus Rus, Bradley Stretton, Justin Obikwu.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (3-5-2): Lee Nicholls; Matty Pearson, Michal Helik, Yuta Nakayama; Ben Jackson, Jack Rudoni, Jonathan Hogg, Ben Wiles (84 mins, for Kyle Hudlin), Jaheim Headley (64 mins, for Sorba Thomas); Delano Burgzorg, Josh Koroma (78 mins, for Kian Harratt).

Subs (not used): Chris Maxwell (GK); Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Brahima Diarra, Tom Edwards, Pat Jones, Tom Lees.

GOALS:

SKY BLUES: Ayari (27)

TERRIERS: Helik (90+4)

REFEREE: Oliver Langford

ATTENDANCE: 22,257 (465 away)

NEXT UP: QPR (a) Saturday, September 30 (3pm).