Nigeria defensive midfielder, Frank Onyeka, opened the scoring for Coventry City as the Sky Blues discomfited Derby County 3-2 in the Championship 2025/26 match on Friday 3 April, 2026 at Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry, West Midlands.
The narrow victory moved Coventry City closer to the English top flight, Premier League – with Jack Rudoni netting a brace for the hosts on his return from injury.
The visitors proved a tough opponent for the hosts as they came back twice against the Championship toppers, but, Rudoni, who was brought on found the back of the net twice to hand Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues maximum points.
The English midfielder had been missing in action since February, however, made his way back on Friday to help Coventry City clinch it’s eighth victory from nine (9) League encounters.
Super Eagles star, Onyeka, netted first for Coventry in the 13th minute after converting R. Esse’s assist, curling home a beautiful effort from range, but, The Rams fought back and restored parity through Ben Brereton Diaz’s header in the 38th minute, thanks to a fine cross from Matt Clarke.
Lampard, former Chelsea midfielder and who guided Derby County to Championship play-offs final in 2019, executed a triple substitution just before the hour mark and amazingly it paid off just few minutes later.
Both sides wasted goal chances before Rudoni placed Coventry back in front as he fired home from fifteen (15) yards in the 68th minute.
However, the visitors won a penalty after Brereton Diaz was adjudged to have been fouled by Carl Rushworth despite Coventry goalkeeper getting a touch on the ball.
And, Brereton Diaz converted well from the penalty spot for Derby County to put the game on 2-2 level in the 77th minute.
In the 80th minute, Rudoni netted his second and third for the home side to plunge the home supporters into a wild celebration and singing about emerging winners of the League.
For his massive contribution to Coventry City’s victory against Derby County, Jack Rudoni was awarded Player Of The Match (POTM).
Results
| Championship 2025/26 – Friday 3 April, 2026 |
| Middlesbrough 1-2 Millwall |
| Birmingham City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers |
| Charlton Athletic 1-2 Bristol City |
| Leicester City 2-2 Preston North End |
| Norwich City 1-1 Portsmouth |
| Oxford United 1-1 Hull City |
| QPR 2-1 Watford |
| Sheffield United 3-3 Swansea City |
| Stoke City 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday |
| West Bromwich Albion 2-2 Wrexham |
| Coventry City 3-2 Derby County |
Photo: Nigerian midfielder, Frank Onyeka, in action for Coventry City during the League showdown against Derby County on Friday 3 April, 2026 | X/Coventry City
