Coventry City 3 - 1 Wrexham

[dutchman]

Coventry cap celebrations to dent Wrexham hopes



Coventry City celebrated their title-winning campaign in style with a victory that dented Wrexham's Championship play-off hopes.

Brandon Thomas-Asante's opener - his 13th league goal of the season - enhanced the party atmosphere at Coventry Building Society Arena (CBS Arena).

Ollie Rathbone's thumping strike just six minutes later brought the visitors level as Wrexham looked on course to gain a crucial point in their quest to earn a top-six spot.

But Victor Torp's sublime free-kick 10 minutes from time combined with Ephron Mason-Clark's strike in added time earned Frank Lampard's side victory.

Despite defeat, Wrexham remain sixth, above seventh-placed Hull City on goal difference and a point clear of eighth-placed Derby County with one regular season match left to play.

The victory extended Coventry's unbeaten run to seven matches and moved Lampard's side to 92 points for the campaign.

Five days on from sealing the title with a 5-1 win over Portsmouth, Coventry received a guard of honour from Wrexham as they entered the CBS Arena pitch ahead of kick-off.

It set the tone for what was a carnival atmosphere throughout as Sky Blues supporters fully savoured the opportunity to toast their side's title success.

Despite seeing little of the ball early on, Wrexham caused the hosts problems as they looked to put a dampener on the Coventry celebrations and bolster their own play-off hopes with a positive result.

But Coventry's quality shone through in the 19th minute as Thomas-Asante volleyed Mason-Clark's curling cross into the net from close range.

It prompted chants of "1-0 to the champions" from home fans, although it was the Wrexham faithful who were celebrating just six minutes later.

Issa Kabore latched on to George Dobson's floated pass before crossing to Rathbone, who drilled through the legs of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from 12 yards out.

Only Watford have gained more points from losing positions in the Championship than Phil Parkinson's side this season.

And the Red Dragons came agonisingly close to taking the lead before half-time, although George Thomason's right-footed strike rattled the post.

Wales international Danny Ward pulled off a crucial one-handed save to keep out Coventry top scorer Haji Wright's goal-bound header 10 minutes after the restart as the game remained finely poised.

Wrexham survived another scare when Milan van Ewijk was unable to capitalise on Dan Scarr's undercooked header back to goalkeeper Ward midway through the second half.

But they spurned a golden opportunity to go 2-1 up moments later as Josh Windass' perfectly weighted through ball found striker Sam Smith, whose effort was blocked by the onrushing Rushworth.

And they were made to pay in the 80th minute as - after former Coventry defender Dom Hyam fouled Mason-Clark - Torp's thumping free-kick from 20 yards out proved too strong for Ward.

Defender Scarr and substitute Kieffer Moore both headed over for the away side late on, before Mason-Clark notched Coventry's third goal in the fourth minute of added time to seal victory.

Champions Coventry have been formidable at CBS Arena this season.

Lampard's men have more wins, gained more points and have scored more goals than any other side on their own patch during the 2025-26 Championship season.

They will have one final party at Watford next weekend before the serious business of preparing for life in the Premier League takes centre stage.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard speaking to Sky Sports:

"A football club is only as big as the people that support it.

"One of the biggest pleasures we get as a group is giving you (fans) the joy of this moment, so this moment is yours."