Haji Wright’s goal six minutes into stoppage time earned Coventry their first victory of the season as the Sky Blues left it late to beat Oxford 3-2.
Mark Robins’ men had been a goal to the good twice through Wright and Milan van Ewijk, but were pulled back first by Ciaran Brown and then Mark Harris before the American sealed all three points.
Wright was the star man for the Sky Blues as he opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he powered home a header following Van Ewijk’s inviting cross from the right.
The USA international was inches away from teeing up the flying Ellis Simms as he flashed his cross across goal.
Simms had been the Sky Blues’ top scorer last season but it was indecisiveness in his own box which allowed Brown to nip in and lash home an equaliser.
The Sky Blues had thrashed the Yellows 6-2 when the pair met in the FA Cup third round back in January and it was they who made all the running in the first half.
Jack Rudoni, making his home debut after moving from Huddersfield in the summer, unleashed a powerful left-footed effort which whistled past the post with Jamie Cumming sprawling to his right.
Wright should have put Coventry back in front but his point-blank header was straight into the arms of Cumming.
Coventry were searching for their first league win since a 1-0 victory over Leeds on 6 April, a run stretching seven games either side of the summer break.
Robins’ men were deservedly back ahead when Van Ewijk met a loose ball across the box and rifled his effort into the bottom corner.
The CBS Arena was stunned after the break when Harris, who was also on the scoresheet during Oxford’s opening day win last weekend, bundled Reuben Rodrigues’ cross into the net to level the score.
A point would have been Oxford’s first on the road in the second tier since a 0-0 draw at Bradford City in May 1999.
Cumming was in brilliant form himself as he tried to preserve the Us’ point, withstanding a second-half onslaught when he flew across his line to prevent Luis Binks’ back-post header, whilst making a brilliant double save from Wright and then debutant Ephron Mason-Clark.
But Wright was to have the last laugh when he latched onto Will Vaulks’ poor backpass and coolly rounded Cumming before slotting into an empty net.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
