Frank Lampard's Coventry City secure promotion from Championship to Premier League following draw at Blackburn Rovers
Updated 17/04/2026 at 23:00 GMT+1
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Coventry City are back in the Premier League after Frank Lampard's side drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers to secure their place in the top tier for the first time since 2001.
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The Sky Blues have been promoted with three games to spare, having been top of the division for much of the season.
It looked like they might have to wait another week for confirmation when Ryoya Morishita gave Blackburn the lead early in the second half at Ewood Park but Bobby Thomas headed home in the 84th minute.
A point was enough for Coventry, who will now look to secure the Championship title ahead of second-placed Ipswich Town.
"Incredible moment," an emotional Lampard told Sky Sports. "We weren't at our fluid best but the quality of the ball in and the power of the header...
"This is what it's about. Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn't easy.
"For doing this after 25 years... Wow. Wow."
He added: "This is a serious, serious football club. I grew up with them as a top flight club but I didn't realise.
"[Former manager] Mark Robins had done an incredible job.
"To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute team with three games to go... These boys have managed to achieve something special and unique.
"I'm proud of myself and the staff. We came into a bit of an unknown 15 months ago when we arrived in a people carrier.
"We've fallen in love and this is right up there with what I have achieved. I'm very proud to be the manager."
Goalscorer Thomas was equally jubilant having sparked the celebrations.
"Amazing, amazing," he said. "I couldn't believe it when it went in. It's been a hell of a season and it's been a project over the last three seasons, and I feel like we deserve it."
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It has been a long road back to the top flight for the club, with relegation to League Two in 2017 a low point amid protests against the former owners.
Their recovery began under Lampard's predecessor Robins, who guided Coventry to promotion from League Two and League One, before losing in the 2022/23 Championship play-off final to Luton Town.
Robins was replaced by Lampard last season and the former Chelsea midfielder took his new side to the play-offs, losing to Sunderland in the semi-finals.
That disappointment was used as fuel for the 2025/26 campaign, which started strongly with an unbeaten run of 12 games.
Coventry remained in the top two throughout the season and it became clear in March that their long-awaited promotion was imminent.
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