Stoke City 1-0 Coventry City Player Ratings: A Late Goal from Lamine Cisse Helps the Potters See off Coventry in a Crucial FA Cup Tie

The FA Cup tie between Stoke City and Coventry City was a visual spectacle for both sets of fans involved. This FA Cup third-round match had all the hallmarks of a tense, nervy encounter decided by a single moment of magic, and that's exactly what we got.

Stoke City edged out Coventry City with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a sublime late goal from the unlikeliest of heroes. The game itself was a gritty, hard-fought battle at the Bet365 Stadium.

It was far from a classic in terms of free-flowing football. Instead, it was defined by tough tackling, numerous fouls, and a real struggle for clear-cut opportunities. Both sides showed plenty of effort, but that final bit of quality seemed to be missing for long spells.

Just when it felt like the match was drifting towards a goalless draw and a replay, Lamine Cissé produced a moment of brilliance. His strike from outside the box in the 88th minute was worthy of winning the game.

It was a dagger to the heart for Coventry City, who had defended resolutely but just couldn't hold on in the final few minutes. A beautiful finish to a truly tense affair, which saw the better team triumph ultimately in a cagey FA Cup game.

Sportsdunia brings you the Stoke City vs Coventry City Player Ratings, where you can see who performed the best and who had an off day in this all-exciting clash between the two Championship teams.

Key Takeaways

• The game was tight, tense, and short on clear chances, but Stoke City finally broke Coventry’s resistance late on with a moment of individual brilliance that settled the FA Cup tie.
• Stoke’s defence did the heavy lifting. While the attack grabbed the headlines at the end due to Lamine Cisse's 88th-minute goal, it was the backline that stood tall throughout, keeping Coventry at bay and earning a deserved clean sheet through disciplined, no-nonsense defending.
• Coventry had effort, but not enough cutting edge. Despite some encouraging spells and a strong individual showing in midfield, Coventry struggled in front of goal, with missed chances ultimately costing them a place in the next round.

Stoke City Player Ratings vs Coventry City

Have a look at the Stoke City Player Ratings from the Stoke City vs Coventry City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Tommy Simkin - 6.5: A relatively quiet afternoon for the keeper, but he was alert when needed. He made one important save inside the box and showed confidence with a good high claim. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, with only 29% of his long balls finding a teammate. Still, a clean sheet is a clean sheet.

Defenders

Ben Wilmot - 7.0: The captain led by example at the back. He was a monster in the air and made a staggering 10 clearances throughout the game. We did notice he missed a gilt-edged chance in the first half, which could have changed the game. Overall, a solid, commanding performance from the skipper.

Bosun Lawal - 7.0: What stood out to us was his sheer energy and combativeness. He won 8 out of his 14 duels and was a constant nuisance, drawing three fouls. He put in a real shift, recovering the ball five times and making some key clearances. A very busy and effective performance.

Ashley Phillips - 7.5: For us, this was an incredibly mature performance. He seemed to win everything, boasting an impressive 8 duels won from 8 attempts. He was in the right place at the right time with 7 clearances and 2 crucial blocked shots. He barely put a foot wrong all game, a rock at the back.

Maksym Taloverov - 8.0: Our Man of the Match. This was a complete defensive masterclass. He was everywhere, making 6 tackles and 3 interceptions. He didn't just defend; he drove forward, creating a big chance and even testing the keeper with a shot on target. An all-action display that was pivotal to the win.

Midfielders

Ben Pearson - 6.5: A typical dogged display from the midfielder. He did his job in the middle, breaking up play with two tackles and an interception. He picked up his customary yellow card for his troubles. He kept possession ticking over but wasn't overly adventurous.

Tatsuki Seko - 6.0: A frustrating day for the midfielder. He gave away four fouls and picked up a yellow card, struggling to get a foothold in the game. He lost possession 10 times and his passing was a bit off. He worked hard, but it just didn't click for him.

Tomas Rigo - 7.0: Stoke's creative hub for much of the game. He created four chances, including one big chance, and was a constant threat with his delivery. His passing was incisive, although he did lose the ball a lot which is expected for a creative player. A very bright spark before being substituted.

Lamine Cissé - 7.5: The match-winner. For 87 minutes, he was a warrior, winning an incredible 16 duels and making 6 tackles. Then, in the 88th minute, he produced a moment of pure magic with a stunning goal. The strike alone bumps his rating up significantly. What a hero.

Million Manhoef - 6.5: He looked dangerous at times, with his quick feet and successful dribbles. However, his final product let him down. We felt he should have scored when he missed a big chance in the first half. He showed flashes of what he can do but lacked consistency.

Forwards

Divin Mubama - 5.5: A really tough afternoon for the young striker. He worked hard but nothing seemed to go his way. He lost possession 13 times, was dispossessed three times, and missed a huge chance just before halftime. From our perspective, he just never got into the game.

Substitutes

Sam Gallagher - N/A: Came on late but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Bae Jun-Ho - N/A: Introduced with Gallagher and had little time to influence proceedings.

Sorba Thomas - N/A: Another late substitute who didn't see much of the ball.

Manager

M. Robins - 7.0: He set his team up to be solid and hard to beat, and it worked perfectly. They were disciplined, organised, and waited for their moment. The substitutions were timely, and ultimately, his game plan delivered a win in a tight cup fixture. A job well done.

Coventry City Player Ratings vs Stoke City

Have a look at the Coventry City Player Ratings from the Stoke City vs Coventry City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Ben Wilson - 6.0: He made two saves, one of which was a decent stop. But what stood out to us was his poor distribution, completing only 12% of his long balls. There was little he could do about the spectacular winning goal, but it was an unconvincing performance overall.

Defenders

Liam Kitching - 6.0: A difficult outing for the captain. He was combative, winning 7 duels, but also committed a couple of fouls and picked up a booking. His long passing was wayward, and he was eventually substituted. Not his best day at the office.

Luke Woolfenden - 6.5: Looked comfortable on the ball, with an 88% pass accuracy. He made a few important clearances and interceptions. However, he was part of a defence that couldn't see the game out to earn a clean sheet. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Josh Eccles - 7.5: Coventry's best player by a country mile in our opinion. He was an absolute workhorse, winning an incredible 13 duels and making 10 ball recoveries. He also showed quality going forward, creating two chances, including one big one. A fantastic all-round display in a losing effort.

Midfielders

Jack Rudoni - 6.5: He was desperately unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork. He was tidy in possession for the most part. But, from our perspective, he drifted out of the game for long periods and lost the ball too easily at times. A mixed performance.

Jake Bidwell - 6.0: He got up and down the left flank but struggled defensively. He was dribbled past four times which is a concern. Going forward he put in some crosses but his final ball lacked quality. A hard-working but ultimately frustrating performance.

Joel Latibeaudiere - 6.5: A real mixed bag from the midfielder. He made some important blocks and clearances but lost 8 of his 15 duels. He was strong in some moments but looked vulnerable in others. A very inconsistent display.

Kai Andrews - 6.5: Very neat and tidy on the ball, with a 96% pass completion rate. He helped recycle possession well but offered very little penetration or threat in the final third. A safe, but ultimately ineffective, performance.

Forwards

Haji Wright - 5.0: A day to forget for the striker and our worst performer. He missed two big chances that could have won his team the game. Beyond those misses, his overall contribution was minimal, with just 20 touches in 73 minutes. A really poor showing.

Romain Esse - 6.5: He tried his best to make things happen, creating two chances for his teammates. He looked lively and wanted the ball. However, he lost possession 16 times which often halted his team's momentum. A bit of a frustrating watch.

Minhyeok Yang - 6.0: Had one shot on target but was otherwise very quiet. He struggled to get involved in the game, only managing 38 touches before he was substituted. We expected more from him in an attacking sense.

Substitutes

Ephron Mason-Clark - N/A: Came on for the final 20 minutes but couldn't provide the spark Coventry needed.

Ellis Simms - N/A: Had little time to make an impact on the game.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto - N/A: Brought on to change the game, but had little influence.

Milan van Ewijk - N/A: A late defensive change who couldn't prevent the winning goal.

Manager

F. Lampard - 6.0: His team was set up to be defensively solid, and for 87 minutes, it worked. However, they offered very little going forward and were punished for their lack of cutting edge. The failure to convert big chances ultimately cost his side dearly. A disappointing result.

Man of the Match

Maksym Taloverov of Stoke City has been adjudged as Sportsdunia's Man of the Match.

Worst Performer

The worst performer in the Stoke City vs Coventry City fixture was Haji Wright.