COVENTRY’S horror start to the season continued as they equalled a 107-YEAR record and continued their dreadful drought in front of goal.
Frank Lampard’s side have now lost all four of their opening games, becoming the first Coventry side to do so since their very first league campaign in the 1919/20 season.
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And the Sky Blues have become only the second Premier League team to lose all four of their opening games without scoring – joining the Crystal Palace side from 2017/18.
Coventry came into the game desperate to find their first league goal, never mind their first points.
Even Tottenham, who have been the league’s laughing stock for failing to find the back of the net yet this season, have managed to earn two draws despite firing blanks up top.
But it is the results that are bringing Lampard’s credentials as a top flight manager into question.
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The former Chelsea and Everton chief now has just four wins in his past 34 Prem clashes – losing 13 of his last 16.
For the most part, it was another miserable showing from the off at the CBS arena.
Fabian Hurzeler’s visiting Seagulls notched three shots and had 82 PER CENT of possession in the first 10 minutes.
Charalampos Kostoulas came close to opening the scoring after 17 minutes, lashing one into the side netting from after a blocked Malick Yalcouye shot.
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Sunday 13 September
Coventry
0 – 5
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Brighton
Man Utd
16:30
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Man City
Monday 14 September
Leeds
20:00
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Newcastle
Friday 18 September
Brentford
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Sunday 13 September
Coventry
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Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
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Liverpool
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Chelsea
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Sometimes a style of football can be to blame for a lack of attacking impetus, and that has been the case in some of Coventry’s opening clashes.
But in the first half of this game, Lampard was able to point the blame at one man for denying Coventry a first Premier League goal since 2001 – Bart Verbruggen.
The Brighton goalkeeper pulled off a simply sensational save to deny Jack Rudoni from close range.
Rudoni perfectly sidefooted a cushioned volley towards the bottom corner after a lofted Jay DaSilva cross.
The Cov captain’s effort looked like a certain goal before Verbruggen got down to the deck like a cat and parried it away.
Coventry should have been 1-0 up and the number of home supporters standing with their hands on their heads told the story itself.
Verbruggen was called into action once again moments later, this time tipping a venomous volley from Frank Onyeka over the bar.
Onyenka had flicked up a headed clearance by Kostoulas and volleyed it with some serious venom at the Brighton goal, but Verbruggen’s strong arm got in the way.
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It was easily Coventry’s best phase of the game, but after getting overexcited about almost ending their goal drought, they found themselves a goal down.
Less than three minutes after Onyeka’s effort was saved, Kostoulas delivered a hammer blow with a brilliant solo goal.
The Greek ace cushioned the ball up into the air inside the box before using his head to evade a tackle from Ethan Pinnock and unleashing a powerful strike into the bottom corner.
Coventry’s hard work had been undone in a matter of moments, and any game plan they had for the second spell was quickly set aflame when Brighton doubled their lead five minutes after the break.
Yalcoure nipped in front of the Coventry backline from a loose header and sprinted into acres of open space to create a one-on-one with Carl Rushworth, which he tucked away with ease.
The Sky Blue misery continued in the moments that followed, as just over 90 seconds later, they were reduced to 10 men.
Taiwo Awoniyi was shown a straight red card by referee Tony Harrington after his flailing elbow crashed into Maxim De Cuyper’s face when the pair were competing for a header.
Awoniyi was adamant he was innocent and even gestured for Harrington to go to the monitor, but a swift check by VAR Peter Bankes confirmed the onfield decision and the former Nottingham Forest man was given his marching orders.
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Pascal Gross later tucked away a third for Brighton from the penalty spot after Bobby Thomas left a lazy leg out to trip up Kostoulas in the box.
But the best of the lot was saved until the dying moments when unlikely goalscorer Lewis Dunk blasted a stunning effort into the top corner from some 40 yards out – giving England hopeful Carl Rushworth no chance.
And as fans started to pile out of the CBS Arena in added time, Yasin Ayari – who spent the 2023/24 season on loat at Coventry – curled home a fifth goal to add further embarrassment to Lampard’s side.
Brighton’s travelling supporters were quick to start chanting that Coventry were destined for relegation, and on the evidence so far, it is hard to disagree.
When compared to the fellow newly-promoted side, Coventry’s start to the season looks bleak.
Hull remain unbeaten and are currently third in the league, while Ipswich Town have already picked up two crucial wins from their opening four games.
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Those comparisons are even more remarkable when you remember that Coventry finished 11 points above Ipswich and some 22 POINTS above The Tigers last term.
And Lampard has even more cause for concern when you learn that only one of the 12 promoted teams that have previously lost their opening three Prem matches have gone on to survive relegation.