Ten out of ten for Coventry City's Championees as Sky Blues secure the title in style

Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as the Sky Blues secure the Championship title in style with a thumping 5-1 win over Portsmouth

“Championees, Championees...” sang the home fans as Coventry City blew Portsmouth away with two quick second half goals to add to their early first half opener at a rocking CBS Arena where Frank Lampard’s men secured the Championship title.

Although the visitors pulled one back, the Sky Blues were in ruthless form and put Pompey to the sword with a fourth and fifth on a hugely memorable night for the football club - back where they belong in the Premier League.

Wright gave City the early lead with a brave close-range header from a Jack Rudoni corner that curled into the six yard box where the striker competed with goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, nodding over the line as he attempted to punch clear.

The USA international lifted another effort narrowly over the bar while Bobby Thomas headed onto the roof of the net in an otherwise dominant opening half devoid of many chances.

But the Sky Blues came flying out in the second half, punishing Pompey twice in the space of the first five minutes of the restart. Ephron Mason-Clark pressed the keeper as he received a back pass and took a heavy touch which was enough to allow the winger to slot home from close range to double the lead in the 47th minute.

And then Milan van Ewijk sent in a hard and low cross from the right in the 50th, only for centre-back Regan Poole to cut it out but sent it into the back of his own net for an own goal to make it 3-0.

City got a bit sloppy in the 69th minute when Rudoni sent a poor back pass into no man’s land and Adrian Segecic raced in, took a couple of touches and thumped home into the bottom corner to give Pompey a consolation goal.

Mason-Clark then added a fourth in the 76th minute as the Sky Blues were determined to put on a show for the supporters, hitting a powerful angled shot into the roof of the net after being played in by sub Victor Torp.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden then added a fifth in stoppage time when he ran onto a Rudoni cross and fired home at the near post.

STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1

CARL RUSHWORTH: 10

Commanded his area and came out to take all loose or threaded balls into his box. Didn’t have a save to make in the first half.

MILAN VAN EWIJK: 10

Kept the ball well, defended well and got up the pitch to support attacks with Esse. Sent in the cross that was hit home by Regan Poole for an own goal for the third.

BOBBY THOMAS: 10

Calm and collected at the back where he was alert to danger and a threat in the opposition box from set-pieces, heading onto the roof of the net from one corner.

LIAM KITCHING: 10

Determined and aggressive at the back where he read the game well, winning all of his battles.

JAY DASILVA: 10

Got forward well on the overlap, linking up nicely with Mason-Clark and showed terrific close control. Defended really well when he had to keep Segecic at bay.

FRANK ONYEKA: 10

Put himself about in the midfield battleground, getting a foot in to win possession in another impressive and influential display.

MATT GRIMES: 10

Calm, organised and efficient as he kept the ball moving and looked for openings with searching passes. Sent plenty of balls into the box in another immaculate display from the skipper.

ROMAIN ESSE: 10

Worked the right flank reasonably well and won the corner that led to the early lead. Lively and tricky in possession.

JACK RUDONI: 10

Made himself busy in the final third where he drifted to the left and right in an attempt to link the play with the wide men. Sent in a lovely curling corner for Haji to score early on and thumped the foot of the post as City almost made it four.

EPHRON MASON-CLARK: 10

Closely monitored and therefore struggled to shake off his markers a bit in the first half but made some decent runs down the left and shielded the ball well when he did have it amid close attention. Nipped in to mug the keeper who made a hash of a back pass to double the lead early in the second half.

HAJI WRIGHT:10

Unable to make the ball stick early on as he received it but was quickly dispossessed but nodded home from a Rudoni corner in the 12th minute to give City the lead. Lifted an effort over the bar and then hooked over as City went close to a fourth.

SUBSTITUTES:

JAKE BIDWELL (64 mins, for Dasilva): 10

Vintage Bidders! Got forward well on the overlap as City drove on looking to increase their lead.

BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (64 mins, for Esse): 10

Lively contribution as City surged forward time and time again looking to put on a show.

VICTOR TORP (64 mins, for Onyeka): 10

Slipped the ball into the box for Mason-Clark to bag his second.

ELLIS SIMMS (74 mins, for Wright): 10

Raced through and lifted a shot narrowly over the bar as the fans were looking for five.

KAINE KELSER-HAYDEN (74 mins, for Van Ewijk):10

Got forward confidently, looked the part and added the fith with a superb first time strike from a Rudoni cross.

Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Joel Latibeaudiere, Luke Woolfenden, Josh Eccles.

PORTSMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Nicolas Schmid; Jordan Williams, Regan Poole, Madiodio Dai, Connor Ogilvie; Ebou Adams, Andre Dozzell; Adrian Segecic, Conor Chaplin, Millenic Alli; Colby Bishop.

Subs (not used): Josef Bursik (GK), Conor Shaughnessy, Marlon Pack, John Swift, Luke Le Roux, Ibane Bowat, Josh Murphy, Harvey Blair, Jacob Brown.

GOALS:

SKY BLUES: Wright (12), Mason-Clark (47, 76), Poole (50, OG), Kesler-Hayden (90+1)

POMPEY: Segecic (69)

REFEREE: Andrew Kitchen

ATTENDANCE: 31,182 (1,640 away)

NEXT UP: Wrexham (h), Sunday, April 26 (12.00).

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