Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner hands out the scores against Derby County
22:08, 03 Apr 2026
Jack Rudoni celebrates scoring for Coventry City against Derby County
Jack Rudoni was the hero for City(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Two second half goals from substitute Jack Rudoni sealed another superb victory for Coventry City to maintain their healthy lead at the top of the Championship.
Frank Onyeka scored a stunning first half goal to give City the early lead but Derby equalised before the break with the first of two goals from Ben Brereton Diaz.
Rudoni restored Coventry’s lead shortly after going on midway through the second half before the Rams pulled level again from the penalty spot - Brereton Diaz slotting down the middle. But Rudoni popped up three minutes later to score again.
City grabbed the early lead in the 12th minute of an end to end contest when Onyeka was played into the box fro the right and hit a superb first time shot that arced over the keeper and into the far top corner to raise the roof at the CBS Arena.
The home side, however, only had themselves to blame for poor defending when Brereton Diaz was allowed to head home unchallenged at the far post seven minutes from the break. The Rams finished the half the stronger of the two sides, with the Sky Blues hanging on with some desperate defending and Carl Rushworth pulling off a good save to deny Bobby Clark.
Frank Lampard’s men, however, asserted their authority in the second half when Josh Eccles was twice denied by good saves from goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell before a triple substitution saw Haji Wright, Jack Rudoni and Ephron Mason-Clark introduced to up the momentum.
And it paid dividends when Rudoni turned three players in the box to drill home into the bottom corner to restore City’s lead in the 68th minute.
Coventry then conceded a penalty in the 77th when Brereton Diaz ran through and went to ground under a challenge from Rushworth, who first got a hand to the ball. The forward then slotted home the second equaliser from 12 yards.
But the home side restored their lead three minutes later when Rudoni converted precisely at the near post from a Van Ewijk cross.
Frank Onyeka scores for Coventry City against Derby County
Frank Onyeka scores for Coventry City against Derby County(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
CARL RUSHWORTH: 7
Commanded his area well, catching high balls and kicking long to get City out of trouble when required. Exposed for the goal and made a really good save low to deny Banel before the break. Went to ground and got a hand to the ball as Brereton Diaz ran through and then went to ground for a penalty.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8
Had to put the after burners on in the opening minutes to deny Bobby Clark running clean through in the box. Has a hand in Rudoni’s first goal when he pulled the ball back to him in the box. Set him up for his second with a cross in from the right to the near post.
BOBBY THOMAS: 8
Strong and aggressive at the back and a goal threat in the opposition box where he headed narrowly wide from an early set-piece. Brought the ball out of defence well to help get City up the pitch and made a really good tackle to deny Banel early in the second half. Excellent throughout.
LIAM KITCHING: 6
Slotted back into the heart of the defence alongside Thomas and played with plenty of aggression and determination early on but slow to react at the far post when Brereton Diaz equalised with his head.
JAY DASILVA: 6.5/7
Defended reasonably well until the equaliser when he and Kitching were too slow to react and allowed Brereton Diaz to sneak in at the back post. But decent going forward and impressive overall.
FRANK ONYEKA: 7.5
Put his foot in to help regain possession and scored a stunning top corner curler to give City the 12th minute lead. Hit one poor back pass that needed Rushworth to come to the rescue to deny Banel.
Frank Onyeka celebrates scoring for Coventry City against Derby County
Frank Onyeka celebrates scoring for Coventry City against Derby County(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
MATT GRIMES: 7
Mr Consistent did what he always does, a calm, reliable and steadying presence in midfield, always ready to help mop up at the back.
TATSUHIRO SAKAMOTO: 7
Made a busy start, covering loads of ground with his terrific work-rate and an absolute joy to watch as he had the beating of full-back Murkin. Had a hand in the build-up to the second goal.
JOSH ECCLES: 7
Pressed high from the start in a bid to force errors and regain possession and drove forward time and again in the number ten role in a really effective first half. Set up Thomas for a headed attempt and nipped in on a poor back pass after the break but couldn’t steer past the keeper who made the save. Made a great run into the box but denied again by the keeper. Unlucky not to score.
ROMAIN ESSE: 6.5
In for Mason-Clark, the on loan wide man started really brightly, chasing and closing down to get a foot in. Had a hand in Onyeka’s goal with a lovely pass into the box. Held onto the balkl and tried to do too much at times but overall decent performance before making way for Mason-Clark just past the hour.
ELLIS SIMMS: 6.5/7
Made some good strong runs and used his physicality to good effect as he attempted to impose himself on the Derby defence. Lifted the loose ball from a saved Eccles’ chance over the bar. Decent shift for the 62 minutes he was on.
Derby County's Bobby Clark (left) and Coventry City's Matt Grimes battle for the ball
Derby County's Bobby Clark (left) and Coventry City's Matt Grimes battle for the ball(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
SUBSTITUTES:
JACK RUDONI (62 mins, for Eccles): 9
Scored five minutes after going on when he turned three Derby players, leaving two on the backsides, before hitting hard and low into the bottom corner.
HAJI WRIGHT (62 mins, for Simms): 6.5/7
Fresh legs and a fresh threat just at the right time.
EPHRON MASON-CLARK (62 mins, for Esse): 6.5/7
Worked hard and went close with a late effort.
VICTOR TORP (90 mins, for Grimes):
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Luke Woolfenden, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Jake Bidwell, Jahnoah Markelo.
DERBY COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Richard O’Donnell; Joe Ward, Dion Sanderson, Matt Clarke, Derry John Murkin; David Ozoh, Lewis Travis; Ben Brereton Diaz, Bobby Clark, Jaydon Banel; Carlton Morris.
Subs (not used): Harley Price (GK), Craig Forsyth, Danny Batth, Patrick Agyemang, Liam Thompson, Oscar Fraulo, Isaac Gordon, Charlie Smith, Cruz Allen.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Onyeka (12), Rudoni (67, 80)
RAMS: Brereton Diaz (38, 77 pen)
REFEREE: Tom Nield
ATTENDANCE: 31,349 (2,123 away)
NEXT UP: Hull City (a) Monday, April 6 (8pm).Coventry City
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Every day, the CoventryLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Coventry City content.
Our dedicated reporter Andy Turner - who you can follow on X - follows the Sky Blues home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.
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