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Coventry City FC
Coventry City matchday blog from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner brings you live updates of all tonight’s action
Coventry City kick-off their final seven game push for automatic promotion by hosting play-off chasing Derby County at the CBS Arena.
The Sky Blues are aiming to strengthen their position at the top of the Championship with the first of two games in quick succession over the Easter schedule – tonight’s home clash with the Rams swiftly followed by a trip to Hull on Bank Holiday Monday.
Frank Lampard could be forced into changes to his team that ran out 3-0 winners at Swansea last time out due to the late return of long-haul internationals Joel Latibeaudiere and Ephron Mason-Clark, while Jack Rudoni (calf), Haji Wright (groin) and Brandon Thomas-Asante (hamstring) have recovered from their injuries and were back in training on Wednesday. Whether they are fit enough to start tonight remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for all tonight’s team news which will be published here at 6.45pm ahead of the 8pm kick-off while Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner will bring you live updates of all the action.
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Key Events
The Sky Blues have done it.
The Sky Blues fans are urging their playerds on to the final whistle as Derby throw everything at City.
Jack Rudoni came off the bench and changed the game for Coventry City(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Torp on for Grimes ahead of seven minutes of added time.
Milan sends in another cross to the near post this time and Rudi hits a first time shot, unmarked, at the near post. Brilliant goal.
Brereton Diaz slots home coolly from the spot to restore parity.
Brereton Diaz races through as Milan misses the chance to cut out the ball and the forward goes down in the box under a challenge from Rushworth. The ref points straight to the spot. Rushworth gets the ball.
Milan raced down the right and pulled back a cross fro Rudi who slipped but regained his compsure to turn three Derby players, leaving two on their backsides before drilling home hard and low with his left foot.
31,349 (2,123 away)
Jack Rudoni on for Eccles
Haji Wright for Simms
Mason-Clark for Esse
Eccles runs in at the near post but is again denied by the keeper. Good chance.
Ward plays a poor back pass and Eccles nips in on goal but the keeper slids in and clears. The loose ball falls to Simms but he hits his shot over the bar. Wasted opportunity.
Thomas reads the ball beauttifully to get a foot in to deny Banel getting a sniff of goal as the game continues with end to end action.
No changes for either side as City kick-off the second 45.
City have looked good at times but poor defending has allowed the Rams back in the game.
The visitors gained a bit of momentum after their goal and looked the stronger of the two sides heading into the interval as City hung on with some desperate defending.
Rushworth drops low to make a crucial save to deny Banel afgter a poor back pass from Onyeka.
Matt Clark is allowed to drift forward down the left and hits a cross to the far post where Kitching allowed Brereton Diaz to head home. Esse and Dasilva were also slow to react.
Sakamoto lifts the ball ovber the top for Simms to chase. TYhe b ig striker gets to it and cuts inside his marker and slides in for a 50-50 with the keeper, who smothers the ball. Decent move.
Coventry City’s Romain Esse (right) has his shot at goal blocked by Derby County’s Matthew Clarke(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Lewis Travis is shown a yellow card for a foul on Eccles.
Grimes curls the dead ball into the far post but the keeper deals with it.
Onyeka has just been brought to ground after making a 30 yard run up the pitch. He’s being treated by the physios. It will be a City corner when play resumes.
He gets up and is ok to continue but has to go poff the pitch first before being called back on.
Frank Onyeka celebrates scoring for Coventry City against Derby County(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
Frank Onyeka scores for Coventry City against Derby County(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
Eccles is fouled in the final third and he lifts a free-kick into the box where Thomas heads just wide.
Frank the Tank gives City the lead with a sensational strike into the far top corner.
The move started with a free-kick which was played out to the toher side where Onyeka kept possession and fed the ball to Esse. The winger then slipped a pass into the box from the right where the Nigerian ran onto it and hit a superb shot that arced over the keeper and into the top corner. Brilliant goal.
It;s been pretty end to end at the start of the game, with bnoth sides trying to impose themselves
Esse forces an early corner and Sakamoto goes down hard in the box after being shoved in the back while contesting a header.
The game is underway with the Rams kicking off towards the away end.
The CBS is packed and the atmosphere is loud and roudy.
Coventry City’s Tatsuhiro Sakamoto warming up
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