Jack Rudoni nets twice as Coventry beat Derby in thriller to close on promotion

Jack Rudoni came off the bench to score twice as Championship leaders Coventry moved 11 points clear of second-placed Millwall with a 3-2 victory over Derby.

The midfielder had been out of action since February 28 but returned to devastating effect as Coventry made it eight wins in nine league outings.

Brentford loanee Frank Onyeka had earlier scored his first goal for the Sky Blues before Ben Brereton Diaz equalised before the break.

Rudoni then put the Sky Blues ahead before Brereton Diaz pegged Frank Lampard’s men back for a second time from the penalty spot.

But the talismanic midfielder swept home just three minutes later to end a thrilling Good Friday encounter at the CBS Arena.

After a frantic opening 10 minutes, on-loan midfielder Onyeka won the ball from Derry Murkin and played a one-two with Romain Esse, who set the ball back for the Nigerian to whip his first-time effort spectacularly over Richard O’Donnell into the top corner.

No team has scored more than Coventry from set pieces this season and the Sky Blues went close to doubling their lead when Bobby Thomas headed Josh Eccles’ free-kick wide.

Derby had been growing into the game as the half went on but had not created a chance of note until they stunned the CBS Arena seven minutes before the break.

Centre back Matt Clarke picked the ball up just inside the Coventry half and embarked on a marauding run down the left before crossing for Brereton Diaz, who had coasted unnoticed into the box to nod home at the back post.

The Rams were presented with a golden opportunity to go ahead before the break.

Onyeka’s weak backpass was latched onto by Jaydon Banel, who was making his first start on loan from Burnley, but his effort was saved by the legs of the onrushing Carl Rushworth.

After the break it was Joe Ward who had his blushes saved by his goalkeeper when his aimless pass across goal was intercepted by Eccles, who found himself through on goal but could not beat O’Donnell.

Eccles found another path through to goal after a one-two with Esse and was thwarted once again by the legs of O’Donnell in the Derby goal.

Lampard, who led Derby to the Championship play off final in 2019, made a triple sub just after the hour mark and four minutes later it paid dividends.

Rudoni slipped in Milan van Ewijk, whose cross was blocked, but the midfielder gathered the ball and steadied himself, leaving two Derby defenders on the turf before firing into the bottom corner.

The lead lasted just nine minutes when Rushworth brought down Brereton Diaz, which referee Tom Nield decided warranted a penalty despite replays showing Rushworth got his fingers to the ball.

The Chilean forward dusted himself down to send the on-loan Brighton goalkeeper the wrong way and level for a second time.

But Rudoni had other ideas. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto twisted and turned down the right before feeding Van Ewijk, who crossed for Rudoni to sweep home his fifth goal in his last four appearances and end a thriller.