Coventry City news looking at the key talking points from the Sky Blues’ first Championship win of the 2024/25 season against Oxford United
Coventry City are back and Friday night’s 3-2 win over Oxford United felt like a massive win. After twice being pegged back by the Championship newcomers, the Sky Blues won it in dramatic style.
Haji Wright capitalised on a rare error from midfielder Will Vaulks in the fifth minute of injury-time to give Mark Robins’ men their first win in the Championship since April 6.
It was electric football from minute one with Coventry the better team throughout while Oxford showed they are not here to make up the numbers with a spirited display. Wright’s winner was a just reward for Coventry’s pile-on in the latter stages.
Although it wasn’t a vintage performance from the Sky Blues, they have recorded their first league win of the season early on. With time still remaining in the transfer window, Robins’ squad could improve before August 30.
Haji Wright, it’s fair to say, is a favourite in Coventry. After heading his first goal of the season from close range, the American forward was a threat all evening. Into the dying stages, Oxford thought they had nullified him.
However, despite running for 95 minutes, Wright showcased his pace when it mattered by bursting away from Elliott Moore before rounding Jamie Cumming and scoring the winner. ‘Ole, ole, ole, ole, Haji Wright, Wright, Wright’ blared around the CBS Arena for a few minutes.
And after the final whistle, club owner Doug King joined in with the chant. A video posted on social media showed King joining a group of Coventry City fans in a box chanting the American’s name with a grand smile on his face.
It’s fair to say that he enjoyed the dramatic ending.
Highfield Road nod
Something that may have not been noticed by all at the CBS Arena was the new pre-match graphics put on the big screen. As both sets of players went back into the changing rooms, the usual pre-match display started with moments from last season including Wright’s winner at Wolves and Callum O’Hare’s goal vs Leicester City.
However, the club had a slight tweak to the font. ‘Cov’ was on the big screen on a number of occasions in the same font that used to sit at the front of Highfield Road before its closure in 2005.
The little tweak was a nice nod to the club’s history and received some high praise from supporters close to the press box on Friday night.
Mark Robins’ new dilemma
Last season, much was made of Coventry’s lack of top quality plan B when times got tough. If Ellis Simms and/or Wright struggled to make an impact, Matt Godden’s energetic nature would be the final roll of the dice.
Now, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ephron Mason-Clark give Robins a different option. Both players came off the bench with the game level and while they didn’t get themselves on the scoresheet, they caused Oxford problems with their movement.
Mason-Clark was very unlucky not to score his first goal for the club but his tricks and link-up play with Milan van Ewijk were encouraging. The two signings have certainly enhanced Coventry’s attacking depth in a potentially long season.
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