Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner hands out the scores from South Wales
19:14, 21 Mar 2026Updated 19:24, 21 Mar 2026
Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante (centre) celebrates (Image: PA)
Three goals in the space of 11 first half minutes blew away a determined Swansea side as Coventry City asserted their authority at the top of the Championship.
Brandon Thomas-Asante, Matt Grimes and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto took the wind out of the Swans early attacking endeavour to ensure Frank Lampard’s men hit the 80 point mark on a day when their rivals dropped points.
Both sides had early chances to break the deadlock with Josh Tymon clipping the crossbar at one end and Ellis Simms touching a gilt-edged cross too close to the keeper at the other when he should really have scored.
But the Sky Blues took the lead arguably against the run of play from the penalty spot just after the half hour when Ephron Mason-Clark was up-ended by Ben Cabango in the box and the referee pointed straight to the spot, leaving Thomas-Asante to drill hard and low under the diving Lawrence Vigouroux.
The unmarked Goncalo Franco headed wide at the far post minutes later as the home side threatened to equalise but Grimes then hit a beautifully struck volley in of the keeper’s left-hand post to give Coventry a 2-0 cushion.
Sakamoto then got on the end of a loose ball just inside the area and drilled towards goal with the ball taking a deflection to beat the keeper at his near post to complete the first half rout two minutes from the break.
The visitors managed the second half brilliantly by keeping up plenty of pressure in Swansea’s half rather than sitting deep to soak up and pressure – the tactic working a treat to ensure the home side couldn’t mount a fight-back.
Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante scores(Image: PA)
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
CARL RUSHWORTH: 7.5/8
Displayed calm footwork under pressure from the Swansea press but didn’t have a save to make in the first half despite Swansea’s impressive pressure. Kicked long when he had to beat the press and get City up the pitch. Made his first save in the 78th minute when he dived low to deny Cullen and pulled off a superb one-ghanded stop to deny Widell a late consolation goal.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 7.5
Had his work cut out keeping tabs on wide man Widell who was played clean down the left far too easily for an early chance on goal.
BOBBY THOMAS: 7.5
Back in after three games out injured, Thomas slotted straight back into the back four with a confident overall performance.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 7.5
Read the game really well early on, nipping in to intercept danger in and around the box as Swansea got at City from the start. Organised the back for line well in a testing first half and calm throughout the second half to see out the win.
JAY DASILVA: 7.5
Read the game well and defended well against Swansea’s threat down the right. Got forward nicely to combine with Mason-Clark.
FRANK ONYEKA: 8.5
Put his foot in well in a busy and difficult start to the game when Swans threw everything at Coventry from the start. A really influential and classy display from the midfielder who put the cross in for Sakamoto’s goal.
Swansea City’s Ethan Galbraith (left) and Coventry City’s Ephron Mason-Clark(Image: PA)
MATT GRIMES: 8.5
Responded to the home boos by smashing in to Ronald and blocking the midfielder’s advances and then answered the boo-boys perfectly when he volleyed home City’s second but showed real class by refsuing to celebrate. Excellent throughout.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 7.5/8
Worked incredibly hard from minute one, battling away for the team and forcing the error for the second goal with his relentless pressing. Made it 3-0 shortly after with a hard and low shot that took a deflection to beat the keeper at the near post two minutes from the break.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 7.5/8
Put in a really busy and energetic shift in the number ten role and put City in front from the penalty spot with a hard and low shot under the keeper.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 8
A real threat going forward, sending in a lovely cross for a terrific chance for Simms and winning a penalty just after the half hour when he proved too tricky for Ben Cabango to handle in the box.
ELLIS SIMMS: 7.5/8
Back in the starting line-up in place of the injured Haji Wright and led the line well with a really strong presence. Looked favourite to score when he got on the end of a Mason-Clark cross but touched his shot too close to the keeper. Denied by a good save from the keeper’s out-stretched foot after the break.
Coventry City’s Matt Grimes (centre)celebrates with teammates after scoring (Image: PA)
SUBSTITUTES:
JOSH ECCLES (61 mins, for Thomas-Asante): 6.5/7
Put himself about well, adding fresh energy as City managed the second half perfectly by keeping up the pressure on the home side rather than sitting back.
JAHNOAH MARKELO (70 mins, for Mason-Clark): 6.5
Got forward and got first time crosses into the box as he continued to stretch the opposition and show what he’s all about to the City fans.
ROMAIN ESSE (70 mins, for Sakamoto): 6
Got straight into the game, adding fresh legs and another attacking problem for the Swans to deal with.
LUKE WOOLFENDEN (81 mins, for Thomas):
JAKE BIDWELL (81 mins, for Dasilva):
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Liam Kitching, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Victor Torp.
SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Lawrence Vigouroux; Ethan Galbraith, Ben Cabango, Cameron Burgess, Josh Tymon; Goncalo Franco, Jay Fulton; Ronald, Jisung Eom, Melker Widell; Zan Vipotnik.
Subs: Andy Fisher (GK), Marko Stamenic, Malick Yalcouye, Ishe Samuels-Smith, Gustavo nunes, Liam Cullen, Leo Walta, Joel Ward, Adam Idah.
GOALS:
SWANS:
SKY BLUES: Thomas-Asante (32, pen), Grimes (38), Sakamoto (43)
REFEREE: Stephen Martin.
NEXT UP: Derby County (h) Friday, April 3 (8pm).
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