Coventry came from behind to secure a draw at Blackburn to seal a return to the top flight for the first time since 2001
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Coventry City's Bobby Thomas celebrates scoring their first goalopen image in gallery
Coventry City's Bobby Thomas celebrates scoring their first goal (Action Images)
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Coventry City sealed promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2001 with a draw against relegation-threatened Blackburn on Friday night.
The Sky Blues headed to Ewood Park needing just one point to end a 25-year absence from the top flight, with the 85-point tally they held before the game already the most in a single league campaign in the club’s history. Ryoya Morishita broke the deadlock for Rovers, but Frank Lampard’s side hit back thanks to Bobby Thomas with four minutes remaining.
The result leaves Coventry on 86 points, 11 clear of second-placed Ipswich Town, who have a game in hand, but crucially 13 points clear of third-placed Millwall, who only have four games remaining. The result also leaves the Sky Blues well placed to win the Championship with three games remaining to cap a triumphant season under Frank Lampard.
“Incredible moment,” Lampard told Sky Sports. “How the game had gone, and you worry, we weren't at our fluid best, the quality of the delivery, the power of the header, what it means to the club.
“We didn't know how to see it out. It's not easy, the stress is strange, the worries, we were nearly there, after 25 years, wow. What they've gone through, they've stuck with us, I didn't know how big the club was, an incredible fanbase, the city, what we've achieved. Mark Robbins has done an incredible job.
“To get promotion, with three games to go, it makes me feel emotion. They deserve every second. This league is hard, teams fighting for relegation, they've got players, and squads. It's special and incredible.
“I'm proud , the staff, we've fallen in love, how the players and the fans have reacted. It's right up there for what I've achieved, I'm grateful for what I achieved in some great Chelsea sides, Champions League, leagues, sometimes I could thank Drogba or Terry for that. To do this though, it's overachieved, it's not to belittle the players, it's hard work, they've risen their game up. I'm very proud to be the manager of that.”
Coventry’s push for the Premier League stalled in recent weeks after back-to-back draws, most recently a goalless stalemate against Sheffield Wednesday last time out, but they did just enough against Blackburn with their late leveller to spark joyous celebrations in the away end late on Friday night.
Promotion to the top flight brings an end to a turbulent quarter of a century for the club, including the disastrous construction of the Ricoh Arena, which financially crippled it and years of mismanagement under former owners Sisu leading to administration, docked points, two relegations, fan boycotts, angry pitch invasions and twice having to move homes.
Frank Lampard, Manager of Coventry City, celebrates securing promotionopen image in gallery
Frank Lampard, Manager of Coventry City, celebrates securing promotion (Getty Images)
But after relegation to League Two in 2017 things began to look up, with Mark Robins returning as manager and steering the club back to the third tier a year later before climbing further to the Championship in 2020.
Robins was sacked by new owner Doug King, who took over in 2023, with Lampard appointed in November 2024. He continued to build on the club’s improving fortunes, leading them to a fifth-place finish last season before a defeat to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals, while the stadium - now called the CBS Arena - came back under the club’s ownership last summer.
Coventry City fans celebrate after Bobby Thomas scoresopen image in gallery
Coventry City fans celebrate after Bobby Thomas scores (Getty Images)
However no play-offs were needed this season as Coventry dominated the standings, with automatic promotion capping a remarkable reverse in fortunes over the past two decades.
Now attention turns to the summer, transfer business and preparations for the new campaign, while the 2026/27 Premier League fixtures will be released on 19 June.