Coventry-born Jamie Paterson scored his first Sky Blues goal deep into stoppage time to move them back into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.
The midfielder joined on a free transfer in February after leaving MLS side Charlotte in August and his sumptuous volley earned Frank Lampard’s side a last-gasp victory.
Coventry dropped out of the top six after back-to-back defeats against promotion chasers Burnley and Sheffield United but Wednesday’s victory lifted them back above Middlesbrough into sixth place.
John Mousinho’s Pompey, who arrived at the CBS Arena with the second-worst away record in the league, remain three points clear of the drop zone with five games to play.
Portsmouth had thrashed the Sky Blues 4-1 in the reverse fixture in December and they almost struck first in the return when Regan Poole headed Josh Murphy’s corner off the underside of the crossbar.
The Sky Blues saw appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Gavin Ward and replays showed they had a strong case when Andre Dozzell blocked Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross.
Lampard, sent off after Coventry’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley at the weekend, made one change to his starting line-up as Victor Torp replaced Jamie Allen, but the Dane left the field on a stretcher after just 20 minutes following an ankle injury.
Jack Rudoni had two chances in a matter of moments to put the hosts ahead when his shot was acrobatically blocked by Connor Ogilvie, before the midfielder headed Milan van Ewijk’s outside-of-the-foot cross inches wide.
Haji Wright had scored four goals in his previous two home outings – including a hat-trick against Sunderland – but he could only get a toe on Rudoni’s driven cross.
The American international also saw his low shot saved by Nicolas Schmid after wriggling his way into the box.
Rudoni’s delivery was causing problems from set pieces as both Bobby Thomas and Ben Sheaf headed over the crossbar, and it was to be his cross that set up the winner.
Brad Collins started in goal once again after he was involved in the mix-up that led to Burnley’s winner last time out, and he comfortably kept out Adil Aouchiche’s low shot from distance.
Murphy also flashed his shot narrowly wide after a pacey Pompey counter attack.
Lampard brought on Paterson, Ellis Simms and Norman Bassette in the closing stages in search of a winner, but thought they would be left to settle for a point when Liam Kitching’s header came back off the post.
However, with time almost up, Rudoni picked out Paterson and his perfect volley into the far corner delighted the majority of supporters.
Mikel Arteta said he is ready to give his life to deliver a trophy for Arsenal after he apologised to the club’s fans for ending the season empty handed.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious title challenge to Liverpool this season, and they are set to ...
Jamie Vardy reflected on an “amazing” and “rollercoaster” career with Leicester after scoring a landmark 200th goal in his 500th and final appearance for the Foxes.The 38-year-old former England striker reached the goal milestone in the 28th minute of Leicester’s home match with Ipswich when he latched on to James Justin’s through ball and expertly slipped it be...
Mikel Arteta apologised to Arsenal supporters for failing to deliver on his dream of ending the club’s two-decade wait for a Premier League title.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League next season.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious challenge to Liverpool this season and are set to finish ...
Interim boss Liam Fox welled up with tears as he reflected on his “pride” at leading Hearts to four straight wins before departing his boyhood club as they prepare to confirm Derek McInnes as their new manager on Monday.With McInnes set to bring his own backroom staff with him from Kilmarnock, it was announced on Saturday that Fox – a childhood Jambo who started both his playing ...
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor heaped praise on her side’s new celebrity investors after multi-millionaire entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and his wife, tennis great Serena Williams, flew over for their FA Cup final triumph at Wembley.Sandy Baltimore scored a brace either side of a Catarina Macario goal as Chelsea sealed an unbeaten domestic treble with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United in fron...
Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Newcastle at the Emirates and a place in next season’s Champions League.Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves prior to the interval before Rice delivered from range with 55 minutes gone.Arsenal’s victory moves them five points clear of third-placed Newcastle with jus...
Marco Silva says Harry Wilson will “want to play Brentford every week” after he stung the Bees for a second time this season with the winner in Fulham’s 3-2 west London derby victory at the Gtech Community Stadium.Wilson, who had his contract extended until next summer this week and also scored a stoppage-time double in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Brentford in November, replicate...
Tony Docherty thanked Lyall Cameron for an outstanding career at Dundee after the midfielder signed off in style with a double in victory over St Johnstone.Cameron, who penned a pre-contract with Rangers in February, inspired a 2-0 win that eased the Dark Blues away from the relegation play-off place.The 22-year-old netted after 28 minutes and rounded off a man-of-the-match display with a stoppage...
Nuno Espirito Santo and his Nottingham Forest players dedicated the 2-1 win over West Ham which kept their Champions League hopes alive to stricken team-mate Taiwo Awoniyi.Striker Awoniyi is recovering from emergency abdominal surgery, having been placed in an induced coma, after colliding with a goalpost in last weekend’s Premier League home draw against Leicester.The 27-year-old revealed o...
Michael Wimmer says he is delighted with how Motherwell have ended the season after wrapping up their William Hill Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw at Ross County.The Steelmen trailed to a Ronan Hale goal on the half-hour mark but improved drastically in the second half and dominated the game in Dingwall.That pressure eventually told, with Moses Ebiye heading in an equaliser with seven minutes...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 3 Arsenal offer £135k deal to seduce target
- 4 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 5 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 6 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 7 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 8 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 9 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 10 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca