Coventry City promoted to Premier League for first time in 25 years
The Sky Blues are back in the top tier of English football after drawing against Blackburn Rovers
Last updated 9 hours ago
Coventry City has officially secured it's place in the Premier League for the first time since 2001, after Bobby Thomas’ late equaliser snatched Frank Lampard’s side a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.
The return back to the top flight marks the end of a 25-year wait and rounds up a remarkable journey under manager Frank Lampard.
Coventry were on the front foot early on but Rovers should have hit the front in the 13th minute when Ryan Alebiosu’s delightful cross found the onrushing Yuki Ohashi six yards out but he headed straight at Carl Rushworth.
The Sky Blues were nullified by their disciplined hosts but a deft Ephron Mason-Clark pass freed Jack Rudoni in the 27th minute and he skilfully evaded two tackles before blasting into the side netting.
Mason-Clark had a sight of goal just before the break but lost his balance when connecting with a powerfully whipped cross from Bobby Clark and poked wide.
The impressive Alebiosu broke clear on the right again on the stroke of half-time and crossed for Morishita, whose first-time shot was blocked by Joel Latibeaudiere.
Coventry started strongly in the second half and only a brave Sean McLoughlin header denied Ellis Simms at close range.
Rovers drew first blood in the 54th minute but it was messy from Coventry as Alebiosu was allowed to cut inside and Frank Onyeka could only divert his effort into the path of Morishita, who superbly steadied himself before lashing in from eight yards via a Thomas deflection.
Lampard responded with a triple substitution just past the hour which almost paid dividends as Haji Wright was played in by Rudoni but Balazs Toth rushed out to smother and Rovers eventually got the ball out for a corner.
The pressure intensified from there as Mason-Clark struck wide from distance before Wright swung a leg at a cross but Toth easily gathered.
But the Sky Blues got the goal they needed and it is Thomas who will go down in the Coventry history books as he rose highest to meet Victor Torp’s free-kick and emphatically headed beyond Toth to send his side into the Premier League.
The Sky Blues turbulent history started with relegation from the Premier League in 2001, after 34 years in the top flight under Gordon Strachan. Since then, the club has faced financial issues, ownership disputes and ground-sharing dilemmas, forcing them to drop to League Two by 2018.
Lampard's appointment came following the controversial sacking of Mark Robbins, who steered Coventry to two promotions and nearly to the Premier League. Despite initial scepticism over Lampard's appointment, he has guided Coventry through a season-long unbeaten streak, and occupying the top spot for most of the campaign.
Securing ownership of the Coventry Building Society Arena added stability, allowing Coventry to finally have a permanent home after decades of uncertainty.