How we scored the players as Leicester City lost the M69 Derby in the final five minutes at the CBS Arena, Haji Wright netting off the bench
14:40, 17 Jan 2026Updated 15:06, 17 Jan 2026
Ellis Simms of Coventry City celebrates his goal against Leicester City(Image: Joe Toth/Shutterstock )
Leicester City let a half-time lead slip as Haji Wright’s 85th-minute goal won the M69 Derby for Championship leaders Coventry.
City were great value for their one-goal half-time advantage after a strong first half, with Jordan James’ ninth of the season putting them in front.
But they could not maintain those levels after the break, Ellis Simms grabbing an equaliser soon after the interval and substitute Wright prodding in with five minutes to play.
It means City missed the chance to move within a point of the play-offs with Marti Cifuentes’ side potentially slipping into the bottom half later on Saturday.
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The atmosphere at the CBS Arena at kick-off was intense, but City, initially, didn’t wilt. They produced a 45 minutes full of intensity, commitment and attacking intent, and by half-time they had silenced a lot of the crowd.
In fact, they nearly did so inside 90 seconds, the ball dropping to James 18 yards out but the midfielder striking straight at Carl Rushworth.
The Welshman made no mistake with his next chance. It was a lovely City move, akin to the opening goal at West Brom, with Abdul Fatawu feeding Bobby De Cordova-Reid and the Jamaican teeing up James with a perfectly-weighted first-time through ball. James took a touch and finished coolly.
City didn’t stop there and nearly had a second five minutes later. James burst down the inside right channel, and cut the ball back to De Cordova-Reid, who scuffed his effort into the ground. It nearly inadvertently looped over Rushworth, the Coventry keeper tipping over.
City were mostly equal to Coventry’s threat at the other end, but the hosts did create a couple of openings, most notably for Ephron Mason-Clark.
Jakub Stolarczyk flapped at a corner and Mason-Clark attacked the loose ball with an overhead kick, his effort dropping just wide. A furious Jordan Ayew berated his goalkeeper, with City players holding their team-mates accountable.
Not long before half-time, City had another golden chance for a second. This time it was Oliver Skipp sprinting down the right and cutting the ball back, and again De Cordova-Reid met it, this time striking cleanly but straight at Rushworth.
But half-time can swing a game. City’s intensity was lost at the start of the second period and within 90 seconds they were pegged back. Jack Rudoni was given too much space on the edge of the box and his shot was flicked in by Simms.
Coventry, now well on top, almost took the lead moments later when Romain Esse crisply struck against the base of the post with City all at sea.
City weathered that storm but another was on the way. Stolarczyk saved low to deny Wright and then the substitute striker had a penalty appeal waved away after he was bundled over by Okoli.
But the American wasn’t to be denied. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto got the better of Luke Thomas and struck low, with Stolarczyk saving but not to safety, allowing Wright to slide in and secure all three points for the hosts.
Jakub Stolarczyk: He flapped at corners and crosses in the first half and was berated by Ayew for doing so. But he improved in that aspect in the second period, while making a smart low save to deny Wright and then doing brilliantly to keep out Sakamoto’s effort in the build-up to the winner. 7
Ricardo Pereira: He made some excellent tackles, including one in the middle when Nelson was beaten by a long ball, but there were other times where Mason-Clark sprinted clear of him, while he also made some lazy passes as he grew more tired. 5
Caleb Okoli: For 70 minutes he was extremely good, winning his headers and the tussles of strength, reading play well to put blocks in and even passing well too. When Wright came on, he did struggle to keep up with him though. 7
Ben Nelson: He put in some well-timed tackles, and important ones at that in moments where Thomas had been beaten. But he did misjudge the long ball a couple of times. On the ball, he was fine, but not as adventurous as he has been. 6
Luke Thomas: When he rushed in on the 50-50s in the middle, showing aggression, he won plenty. But he was also beaten regularly by Esse and was caught out by Sakamoto for the winning goal. 4
Oliver Skipp: An energetic, all-action display is exactly what City want to see from the midfielder and it’s what he delivered. He was keen to get on the ball, played some nice passes and surged forward when space was in front of him, but also mopped up well defensively. There were a couple of poor loose passes in the middle though. 7
Jordan James: He took his goal with great composure and made lots of powerful runs down the right, delivering accurate cutbacks and crosses at the end of them. He consistently picked up good positions and got shots off, but aside from his goal, he didn’t always strike with conviction. 8
Bobby De Cordova-Reid: His movement and timing to get on the ends of crosses and cutbacks was excellent, but he didn’t have the finishing to match. If he did, City would have walked away as winners. But he was still very good, and delivered a perfectly-weighted pass for James’ goal. 7
Abdul Fatawu: He played his part in the James goal and showed his selfless side with some fine passes in the first half. He needed to run at Dasilva more and not go down so easily as when he did do that, he had joy. He was more selfish in the second half, but was City’s biggest threat. 6
Jordan Ayew: There were moments of nice skill out wide and his near-post runs to create spaces for others on the cut-backs were very good. But there were still frustrating moments of him losing the ball cheaply or going down too easily. 5
Stephy Mavididi: He made lots of promising off-the-ball runs in the first half and that allowed City to stretch Coventry. But he just didn’t make the same impact in the second period. 5
Louis Page: With his first touch he set up a chance for James and he had one great surging run through the middle. But he was crowded out in other moments. 6
Patson Daka: He was offside in one moment where he shouldn’t have been, while one run and shot was decent, but could have been better. 5
Jeremy Monga: Wasn’t able to show off his quick feet, while he also picked up a cheap yellow. 5
Boubakary Soumare: Only on the pitch for a few minutes. N/A
Silko Thomas: He only had a couple of minutes but still managed to start a ruckus. N/A
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