Awoniyi ends drought to power Coventry win

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi ended his Premier League goal drought on Saturday as Coventry City beat Sunderland 3-1 at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The goal was his first of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign, after a frustrating start to the season where he has scored one other goal in the EFL Cup.

He struck in the 37th minute to double the lead of Frank Lampard’s side, and he was substituted after a 72-minute shift in which he constantly troubled the visitors’ defence.

The match was billed as a relegation six-pointer between the Sky Blues and basement side Sunderland, managed by Régis Le Bris.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto put Coventry ahead in the 17th minute before Awoniyi’s strike, while Jack Rudoni made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute to put the game beyond Sunderland.

Enzo Le Fée pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 67th minute following a VAR review, but the visitors never looked capable of a comeback. Their afternoon got worse in the 99th minute when defender Omar Alderete received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving them with 10 men.

The result gives Coventry three vital points in their fight for survival.

Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories