Coventry 0 - 5 Brighton

Coventry remain pointless on their Premier League return as they were dismantled 5-0 by brilliant Brighton at the CBS Arena.

Charalampos Kostoulas put the Seagulls in charge before the interval, Malick Yalcouye doubled the lead after the break, and when Taiwo Awonoyi was sent off there was no way back. Pascal Gross’ penalty, Lewis Dunk’s rocket and Yasin Ayari’s strike sealed it.

Brighton had the first seven shots of the match, all inside the first 20 minutes, but Coventry had the next eight and were in the ascendancy – which is what will make Kostoulas’ opener more frustrating for Lampard. The Greek striker punished them.

The first half featured 21 shots, the most in any Premier League game so far this season, but Bart Verbruggen kept Coventry out despite the home side having 10 of them. He tipped Jack Rudoni’s volley wide and Frank Onyeka’s vicious strike over the crossbar.

There was to be no comeback for Lampard’s side. The start of the second half put paid to that when Yalcouye nipped in ahead of a sluggish Aurele Florian Amenda to race through and slot home before Taiwo Awoniyi was sent off for elbowing Maxin De Cuyper.

When Bobby Thomas tripped Kostoulas, things got worse for the Sky Blues. Gross converted the penalty to make it three and then Dunk took a pot-shot from distance that arrowed into the top corner of Carl Rushworth’s net. Yasin Ayari then made it five in stoppage time.

Brighton, the Premier League top scorers, go fourth. As for Coventry, their fans were impressively defiant in their support but they remain bottom without a goal let alone a point upon their Premier League return. Hull and Ipswich have started well. They have not.

The key moments from the CBS Arena

27 – SAVE! Verbruggen denies Rudoni from close

32 – SAVE! Onyeka’s vicious strike is tipped over

35 – GOAL! Kostoulas strikes to punish Coventry

51 – GOAL! Yalcouye race through to make it two

53 – RED CARD! Awoniyi sent off for a stray elbow

70 – PENALTY SCORED! Gross converts spot-kick

83 – GOAL! Dunk scores with an outrageous effort

90+4 – GOAL! Ayari caps it by curling into the corner

Analysis: Red card was harsh

Sky Sports’ Roy Keane on the sending off of Taiwo Awoniyi:

“I think it’s tough. Obviously, he’s raised his elbow and is waiting for him to come, but is it a swinging elbow?

“I think it’s harsh. He probably gave the referee the chance to send him off, but once that decision’s made it’s proper game over.”

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