Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky blues reporter Andy Turner hands out the scores from Carrow Road.
22:04, 26 Jan 2026Updated 22:12, 26 Jan 2026
Victor Torp of Coventry City is challenged by Ali Ahmed of Norwich City
Victor Torp of Coventry City is challenged by Ali Ahmed of Norwich City(Image: )
Coventry City wasted an opportunity to restore their six-point cushion at the top of the Championship by gifting Norwich the second-half lead at Carrow Road.
The Sky Blues led at the break through Romain Esse, only for Anis Ben Slimane to pull the hosts level straight from the second-half restart. Frank Lampard’s men then pressed the self destruct button when they gifted the Canaries the lead as Liam Kitching lost possession at the back and the visitors were promptly punished by Ali Ahmed.
Carl Rushworth dropped down low to deny Ben Slimane as Norwich looked the more likely to break the deadlock in a lively first half in Norfolk. But Esse showed terrific determination to ride two challenges in the box and then beat goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic at his near post with a powerful shot to give the Sky Blues the 38th minute lead against the run of play.
Haji Wright almost doubled the lead three minutes later, only to be denied by a good save before the home side finished the stronger of the two to the break. Philippe Clement’s men then came flying out of the traps in the second half, equalising with just 40 seconds on the clock as Ali Ahmed played Ben Slimane in behind where he rounded the keeper and slotted in from a tight angle.
Defender Kitching was then caught in possession by Jovon Makama who spread the ball wide to Papa Diallo who pulled back for Ali Ahmed to pick his spot for the 68th minute lead which was enough to win the game.
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard (Image: )
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STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
CARL RUSHWORTH: 6
Commanded his box well, catching high balls and kicked long when required and got down low to make a save to deny Ben Slimane. Exposed for the equaliser when Ben Slimane went round him to score from a tight angle. Exposed for the second as Kitching lost possession.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 6.5
Out-muscled Makama in the box as the striker threatened to get a shot off early on and defended really well in the first half when he used his pace to good effect.
BOBBY THOMAS: 5
Back in the side after three games out suspended and injured and did what he does, heading and blocking everything that came his way in a lively and testing first half. Got his angles and positioning all wrong as Ahmed sent a reverse ball to spring Ben Slimane for the equaliser.
LIAM KITCHING: 4.5
Read the game well and made a crucial block to cut out a Makama effort in the 26th minute as Norwich threatened to break the deadlock. Lost possession as he attempted to play out from the back and was promptly punished as City handed Norwich the lead.
JAY DASILVA: 5.5/6
Read the game well, nipping in to intercept Norwich passes early on but caught out of position a couple of times as Norwich had the free run down the right. Decent going forward.
MATT GRIMES: 6
Played some decent up-field passes and helped defend by dropping deep into the back four.
VICTOR TORP: 5.5/6
Sent in decent flag kick deliveries and won plenty of challenges but also lose possession a couple of times. It was his shot that was blocked in the build-up to Esse’s goal.
ROMAIN ESSE: 6.5/7
Made a slow start by his usual standards and picked up an early yellow card but showed good strength and determination to ride two challenges in the box and beat the keeper at his near post with a powerful shot to give City the 38th minute lead. A bit hot and cold.
Coventry City's Romain Esse celebrates scoring
Coventry City's Romain Esse celebrates scoring (Image: )
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 5
Made his first start since November, coming in for the injured Rudoni in the No.10 position where he worked hard, pressing from the front. Lively but rarely a goal threat and replaced by Eccles just past the hour.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 6
Strong and lively and sent Haji through into the box for City’s first chance and worked the left flank well with Dasilva in the build up to the Esse’s goal. Headed onto the woodwork from a Torp free-kick as City went close to restoring their lead.
HAJI WRIGHT: 6.5/7
Stretched the Norwich defence with some good runs and pressed high up the pitch to force mistakes. Denied by a good save from the keeper just before the break. Ran through on the left and tested the keeper at his near post as City attempted to get back on level terms.
SUBSTITUTES:
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO (62 mins, for Esse): 6.5
Made a lively impact from the bench.
JOSH ECCLES (62 mins, for Thomas-Asante): 5.5
Hard working and determined.
ELLIS SIMMS (71 mins, for Wright): 5.5
Worked hard but didn’t really get a sniff of goal.
MIN-HYEOK YANG (71 mins, for Mason-Clark): 5.5
Lively contribution when he went on.
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Luke Woolfenden, Jake Bidwell, Joel Latibeaudiere, Kaine Kesler-Hayden.
NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Vladan Kovacevic; Kellen Fisher, Ruairi McConville, Jose Cordoba, Ben Chrisene; Pelle Mattsson, Kenny McLean; Tony Springett, Anis Ben Slimane, Ali Ahmed; Jovon Makama.
Subs (not used): Daniel Grimshaw (GK), Harry Amass, Harry Darling, Mathias Kvistgaarden, Papa Diallo, Matej Jurasek, Oscar Schwartau, Jack Stacey, Jacob Wright.
GOALS:
CANARIES: Ben Slimane (46), Ahmed (68)
SKY BLUES: Esse (38)
REFEREE: Thomas Kirk
ATTENDANCE: 25,452 (1,658 City)
NEXT UP: QPR (a) Saturday, January 31 (3pm).
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