Coventry City player ratings v QPR as Sky Blues run riot with seven goals on historic day at CBS Arena

Coventry City blew QPR away with a 7-1 thrashing on their historic day at the newly purchased CBS Arena.

The Sky Blues put five past the Hoops before the break on a truly memorable afternoon at the club’s official new home following Mike Ashley’s sale of the stadium to Doug King.

Haji Wright scored the first ever goal of the new era in the 12th minute and celebrated in style, re-enacting Claus Jorgensen’s skip when he opened the club’s account at the stadium 20 years almost to the day.

Brandon Thomas-Asante then added a second in the 23rd minute when a stray pass from the Hoops’ skipper, Jimmy Dunne, was pounced on by Jack Rudoni who fed the striker to his right for a powerful finish past the keeper.

Rudoni then got in the act when Matt Grimes played a precise ball into his feet, leaving the midfielder to curl round the keeper and into the bottom corner to make it 3-0 just past the half hour. Thomas-Asante then fed Wright for his second and City’s fourth in the 37th minute before Rudoni popped up with his second, again fed by Thomas-Asante.

Not content with 5-0, the Sky Blues picked up in the second half where they had left off in the first and immediately extended their advantage when Ephron Mason-Clark cut into the box and teed up Victor Torp for a first time shot into the far corner, making it 6-0 with 46 minutes on the clock.

The Dane then added his second and City’s seventh in the 66th minute with a sublime angled shot from just outside the box, set up by Raphael.

The only blot on an incredible afternoon was when Rangers scored a late consolation in added time, with Richard Kone finding the net in stoppage time.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 7

A safe pair of hands amid high balls into the box but a relative bystander on a day when the outfield players set up camp at the other end of the pitch to blow the opposition away.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8.5

Made some terrific runs down the right wing looking to get in on the overlap and set up Haji Wright to give City the early lead. A constant threat down the right with his blistering pace.

BOBBY THOMAS: 8

Calm and collected, defending well on a relatively quiet day for the defenders as City ran riot at the other end.

LIAM KITCHING: 8.5

Took the armband again and led by example, right on top of his game and started the five man move for the opening goal.

JAY DASILVA: 7.5

Kept tabs on wide man Dembele while also getting forward at every opportunity to support City’s wave after wave of attacks. Quiet first half by his standards but only because his teammates were making all the attacking moves.

MATT GRIMES: 8.5

Shook off a nasty gash to his shin to continue as the beating heart of City’s midfield and set up Rudoni for his goal as City blew away the opposition at the CBS. So strong on the ball. Outstanding.

VICTOR TORP: 9

Picked up where he left off against Derby with some neat and tidy link-up play and getting shots off in the box and had a hand in the opening goal. Extended City’s incredible lead to 6-0 two minutes into the second half with a first time shot from just inside the box to the far bottom corner. A lovely finish but better was to come when he lifted an angled shot from just outside the area into the far top corner to make it 7-0 in the 66th minute.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 9

Once again deployed out wide on the right as he continues to deputise for the injured Sakamoto, the striker was full of energy and running. Hit a superb finish into the top of the net at the near post to double City’s lead in the 23rd minute and set up Wright for City’s fourth. Set up Rudoni for City’s fifth before the break.

JACK RUDONI: 9

Part of some lovely link-up play with Van Ewijk on the right. Set up Thomas-Asante for City’s second and scored the third from a deflected shot into the box. BTA returned the favour with a lovely pass before Rudi curled into the bottom corner for City’s fifth. Simply too hot to contain.

EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 7.5

Hugged the left touchline waiting for his chance to make a move and finally had a goal involvement early in the second half when he set up Torp for City’s sixth. Rested in the 56th minute to give Raphael a run.

HAJI WRIGHT: 9

Led the line and scored the historic first goal of Coventry City’s new era as owners of the CBS Arena, running onto a Milan van Ewijk pass to drill home from just inside the area. The USA international added a second in the 37th minute with a low shot into the bottom corner. Great movement and showed again that he can find the net.

SUBSTITUTES:

RAPHAEL BORGES RODRIGUES (56 mins, for Mason-Clark): 7.5

Excellent when he went on, showing terrific confidence to take on players and set up Torp for 7-0.

KAINE KESLER-HAYDEN (68 mins, for Brandon Thomas-Asante): 6.5

Took an early knock but shook it off and looked decent on the ball, slotting in on the right wing.

MIGUEL ANGEL BRAU (68 mins, for Jay Dasilva):

Slotted in at left-back as the game petered out. Might have done better for the late consolation.

ELLIS SIMMS (79 mins, for Wright):

JAMIE ALLEN (79 mins, for Grimes):

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Jake Bidwell, Jamie Allen, Ellis Simms, Kai Andrews, Justin Obikwu.

QPR (4-2-3-1): Joe Walsh; Jimmy Dunne, Liam Morrison, Steve Cook, Esquerdinha; Sam Field, Jonathan Varane; Karamok Dembele, Kieran Morgan, Rayan Kolli; Rumarn Burrell.

Subs (not used): Paul Nardi (GK), Kealey Adamson, Paul Smyth, Timothy Akindileni, Harvey Vale, Richard Kone, Daniel Bennie, Nicolas Madsen, Amadou Mbengue.

GOALS:

SKY BLUES: Wright (12, 37), Thomas-Asante (23), Rudoni (35, 43), Torp (47)

HOOPS: Kone (90+1)

REFEREE: Adam Herczeg.

ATTENDANCE: 29,015 (1,847 away)

NEXT UP: Millwall (a) Carabao Cup second round, Tuesday, August 26 (7.45pm).

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