Coventry City

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist and Coventry fan

Image source, Shutterstock

The best stories have happy endings and Coventry City finally have theirs.

Just under 12 months ago, I wrote of yet another 'savage ending' in the Coventry storybook' following the Sky Blues' play-off defeat by Sunderland.

But that night at the Stadium of Light has been eclipsed by a Championship campaign branded the "the best ever" by supporters.

Coventry City are back in the Premier League and are champions of the Championship.

A fairytale for the players, staff and supporters alike.

The Sky Blues have come agonisingly close to the Premier League twice before and after finally getting over the line this season, there is an overwhelming sense of shock.

There was a euphoric and emotional atmosphere at Ewood Park after promotion was secured last Friday and just four days later, they won the league on home turf.

That feels all the more special in a season when the Coventry Building Society Arena was bought by owner Doug King and became the club's official home after 20 years.

It will take some time for promotion to sink in but what this means to the city of Coventry and its supporters is immeasurable.

Coventry City are back.

Image source, Shutterstock

Coventry midfielder Ephron Mason-Clark said the city "deserves" to see its team back in the Premier League as Championship winners after their thumping 5-1 win over Portsmouth at CBS Arena.

Mason-Clark scored twice as the Sky Blues romped to the title in style in front of 30,000 fans on Tuesday to confirm they will return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years with a trophy.

"I'm just happy it ended like that," Mason-Clark, whose double took his goal tally to nine this season, told BBC CWR.

"It's always about the team first, but to top off the game like that with a contribution - I'm just pleased."

After clinching promotion with a goalless draw at Blackburn on Friday night, Frank Lampard's City gave their home supporters a treat, delivering the title with another swashbuckling performance that has typified much of their outstanding season.

"Obviously that's much better [result] than at Blackburn," Mason-Clark, 26, said.

"Everyone didn't have as much stress as they did a couple of games ago. It was amazing to be a part of.

"I'm just grateful to be part of this team. Every day something new is happening.

"I'm happy being able to contribute to wins and certain results across the season. I don't look at the numbers too much, I'm just happy with my general performance and the learning."

Mason-Clark said he is already looking forward to next season although the full impact of what they have achieved has not yet hit them.

"I don't think it's sunk in yet. I'm trying to enjoy the moment," he said. "The off-season is going to be a lot about myself on and off the pitch. I know the next stage is where the real learning starts but I'm in a good place."

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR after his side beat Portsmouth 5-1 to clinch the Championship title.

"It was very apt for these boys to do it in that style at the CBS," he said.

"I was very determined for the players to do it in the right way. I thought it was fantastic and it was perfect as an evening.

(On reaching 90 goals for the season) "We want to play in a style that fans want to come and watch us and we also don't want to concede and I think that's been a big improvement on last season.

"Tonight's performance was the icing on the cake. We want to finish it well and get some more points."

Will Oelrich
BBC CWR reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

Coventry City fans have waited a generation for nights like this.

It has been 25 long years since the Sky Blues last graced the top flight, and now with promotion sealed, it's all eyes on the Championship title.

All that separates them from glory is one final hurdle - Portsmouth.

And they get to face it at a near sold out CBS Arena - a stadium which has become a fortress under Frank Lampard.

Lampard's home record has been incredible. The Sky Blue Army will pack every corner of the ground, ready to push their team over the line.

But this won't be a coronation stroll. Portsmouth arrive in the Midlands with fire in their boots and survival on their minds.

Their last eight days have been nothing short of season‑defining. Victories over promotion chasers Ipswich and Middlesbrough, followed by a statement win against Leicester.

A five‑game unbeaten run at the business end of the season is the kind of form that drags teams out of trouble and they know one more scalp would secure their safety.

Still, this is Lampard's moment. The newly crowned Championship Manager of the Year will be desperate to finish the job on Tuesday, to turn a remarkable season into an unforgettable one.

Win the title here, in front of their own fans, and Coventry City's players could walk out next Sunday (12:00 BST) to a guard of honour from Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham.

A quarter‑century of waiting. Ninety minutes of football. A chance to write themselves into the Sky Blue history books.

Image source, Opta

After securing their first promotion to the top-flight in 59 years, Coventry City will aim to seal the Championship title by beating Portsmouth at the CBS Arena on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

Despite drawing their past three games, the Sky Blues are 10 points clear of second-placed Ipswich following Sunday's 2-2 draw between Town and Middlesbrough, with the Tractor Boys having four games remaining.

Pompey head north on the back of three straight wins, and clean sheets, against Boro, Ipswich and Leicester, which have lifted them seven points clear of the relegation zone with three games to play.

John Mousinho's side would be safe, even with a defeat, should Oxford United lose at home to Wrexham, also on Tuesday night.

• Coventry have won three of their past four league games against Portsmouth (L1), and are looking to complete the double over them for the first time since 2010-11.

• Portsmouth have failed to score in six of their past nine away league games against Coventry, though they've avoided defeat each time they've scored in that run (W2 D1).

• Coventry failed to score in their last home league game against Sheffield Wednesday (0-0); not since November 2023 have the Sky Blues gone successive league matches on home soil without a goal.

• Portsmouth have recorded four wins across their past 10 away league games (D3 L3), as many as in their previous 34 away league games since the start of last season (D9 L21).

• Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante has scored in six of his past seven home league starts (6 goals), only netting more home goals for a single club in an English league season in 2023-24 (8 with West Brom).

In the midst of Coventry's promotion celebrations on Friday night we asked what you made of the end of the Sky Blues' 25-year stint outside the Premier League and who you'd like to thank for this moment.

Birmingham, Northampton, Wembley, financial turmoil, the club has lived so many chapters over the 9,101 days since their last Premier League game.

Here's a brief selection of the many, many messages we received - thank you for them all.

Karter: I want to thank Doug King for giving us this opportunity and putting all his effort and money into the club. He is a true Sky Blue and I want to pay tribute to Mark Robins as we wouldn't be in this position without his hard work and passion. And of course to super Frankie Lampard, he deserves a statue. Promoted. Passionate. Proud.

Steven: An emotional wreck! That Villa game 25 years ago was my first game as a four-year-old so it didn't quite hit me like it did everyone else but boy oh boy, I've seen some of the worst times I wouldn't wish on any football club, so now after eight years, from the depths of League Two all the way back to the Premier League, it's just unbelievable. Words can't describe how immensely proud I am of this team.

John: This is the fourth high in a lengthy history, but the present sits the most important. Promotion to the top flight (1967), finishing sixth and qualifying for Europe (1970) and winning the FA Cup (1987). This is now. This is the future.

Chris: Just the best day of my life. I was there when we went down, and I always kept the faith, but around 10 years ago I was resigned to the fact we would never be back. Thank you Mark Robins, thank you Doug King, thank you Frank Lampard, and thank you to all the players over the last decade who never knew when to die. We are Coventry City and we are Premier League.

Luke: Incredible achievement without spending as much as a lot of clubs on the wage bill. Doug King runs the club brilliantly and has done for some time now, Magic Frank has done an incredible job with his phenomenal entourage, and the effort and performances of the players have been pretty much outstanding all season. It's really hard to pick out a single player who won promotion for us, but for me Carl Rushworth's performances cannot go without specific mention. His goalkeeping has given us more than a few extra points on the board.

Archie: After everything we have been through, an hour away from going bust, the council selling our stadium, playing in different cities that are not our home. Mark Robins, Matty Godden, Michael Doyle, Max Biamou and Liam Kelly this promotion is yours as much as the boys celebrating.

John G: I have been a season ticket holder for 52 years, since the age of six, and been part of the highs and lows of this wonderful, family-centred club. But to come back from the depths of not having our own ground, nearly going out of business, and relegation after relegation, is an incredible story. Frank Lampard has been superb, but huge credit must go to Mark Robins, who will always be in the hearts of all Sky Blue fans. This achievement is down to all of his years of hard work, and building the foundations for what has just happened.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Lampard is to Coventry City midfielder Jack Rudoni what Jose Mourinho once was to him.

In 2004, Mourinho walked into the dressing room and told Lampard he was "the best player in the world", adding: "The only difference between Zidane and you is trophies."

Fast forward 22 years and Lampard is telling Rudoni he is "Champions League level" after the midfielder scored twice to see off Derby County a fortnight ago. Now the pair have sealed promotion to the Premier League after drawing 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers on Friday night.

Asked about Lampard's comments, Rudoni said: "For him to say that means a lot. I completely believe that I can play at these levels, but obviously I've not played them yet. Hearing the gaffer say something like that about me fills me with even more confidence."

Like Lampard at a similar age, Rudoni has developed into a goalscoring midfielder, capable of crashing the box. He has seven goals and five assists in 29 league matches this season, after recording 10 goals and 13 assists in the previous campaign.

"He's always helping me with little bits and pieces – the timing of runs, the areas to get into, even shooting techniques," Rudoni added. "We've spoken about all of that. I think he's the best goalscoring midfielder there's ever been, so who better to learn from?"

Alongside Lampard, Rudoni repeatedly highlights the influence of assistant coach Joe Edwards, who shows him clips of the areas he needs to arrive in to score – including footage of how Lampard himself mastered the role.

Coventry's number five should also be lauded for his resilience on the road to the Premier League. Released by Crystal Palace as a child, Rudoni went on loan at non-league Corinthian-Casuals and Tonbridge Angels before earning regular minutes at League One side AFC Wimbledon.

"I've always had self-belief," he said. "From where I've come from, you have to.

"My family will be really proud when we get this over the line, because they know how much playing in the Premier League has meant to me growing up. When it's done and we've been promoted, that's when it will really hit them emotionally."

How are you feeling Sky Blues fans?

It's been quite a journey for your club, not just the past 25 years, but even this season, with a 12-point lead in the promotion race wiped out by a winter wobble.

Was Bobby Thomas' late equaliser worth the wait? Who do you most want to thank for being in this position? Can you finish the job and seal the title in the coming days?

And looking ahead... what are your hopes for next season? Do you think this squad can compete in the Premier League or will you need to upgrade in certain areas? Who are your untouchables?

We want to know it all, so click here to let us know.