Haji Wright’s fifth goal of the season secured Coventry a second consecutive Championship win as they saw off Plymouth 1-0 at the CBS Arena.
The perplexed Pilgrims felt aggrieved after they believed the ball had gone out in the build-up when Milan van Ewijk drove to the byline before cutting back for Wright to fire home the winner.
Mark Robins’ side’s 3-0 win at Millwall at the weekend marked the end of a six-match winless run in the league for last season’s play-off finalists, who also kept their third clean sheet on the bounce.
Plymouth’s miserable time on their travels continued as Steven Schumacher’s winless side were condemned to a sixth defeat away from Home Park.
Josh Eccles had Coventry’s first effort on goal which was headed away bravely by Julio Pleguezuelo, before Morgan Whittaker’s audacious effort from distance comfortably cleared the crossbar.
There was a touching moment midway through the half when players and fans from both sides paused to pay tribute to Hallie Reeve, a two-year-old Sky Blues supporter who recently lost her fight with cancer.
Bobby Thomas found himself in a good position but failed to connect with Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s inswinging corner before the defender picked out Jamie Allen, who fired wide.
Brad Collins was forced into action for the first time when he clawed away Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s deflected cross before the former Barnsley goalkeeper beat Whittaker’s free-kick to safety.
Ben Sheaf had two chances to break the deadlock before the break, his first effort curling narrowly past the far post before the ex-Arsenal player’s effort was met by the chest of Michael Cooper from point-blank range.
Sky Blues’ record signing Wright had notched just four goals since his summer move from Antalyaspor and blasted over after Van Ewijk had nipped in front of Bali Mumba.
Finn Azaz was then played in by Luke Cundle and after twisting and turning to find a yard for a shot, his effort was deflected for a corner.
Cundle then had a go at opening the scoring himself, driving into the heart of the Coventry defence before fizzing his shot past the post.
Plymouth’s best chance came with 20 minutes to go as Jake Bidwell inadvertently diverted a corner into the path of Lewis Gibson, but the defender’s close-range volley cleared the crossbar.
Seconds later they were made to pay when Van Ewijk drove to the byline and cut back for American Wright to emphatically fire home 15 minutes from time.
Richarlison: Reports of Tottenham unrest 'fake news'
Richarlison has described reports suggesting he is unhappy at Tottenham as "fake news", insisting he will still be playing in the Premier League next season.
Richarlison enjoyed a vastly improved season in 2023-24, scoring 11 Premier League goals after only netting once in his first campaign with Spurs in 2022-23.
However, injuries prevented the Brazil international from finishing the campaign strongly and reports have suggested Spurs are in the market for a new striker.
They have also agreed to bring Timo Werner back from RB Leipzig on another season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
Some had suggested Richarlison could be a victim of an overhaul as Ange Postecoglou looks to put his stamp on the squad, but the former Everton man says he is going nowhere.
In a post to X, Richarlison wrote: "I gave up my vacation and came to work in Sao Paulo so I could return well and ready for the next season.
"I never said I was dissatisfied at my club, and everything that has been coming out in the media here about negotiations is fake news.
"I don't know where they got that from! I won't leave England next season!"
Houston Dynamo v Colorado Rapids: Mihailovic wants Rapids in conversation for best team in the West
Djordje Mihailovic believes the Colorado Rapids should be grouped among the best teams in the Western Conference as they prepare for a trip to the Houston Dynamo.
The Rapids have won just one of their last four games, but a point against Minnesota United in a 3-3 draw was enough to keep them sixth in the table.
Colorado are now looking to get back to winning ways, and Mihailovic is hoping their form against the rest of the top six can translate against Houston.
"Last year wasn't great, and we're trying to move on, but we can't forget - it's the club's history," Mihailovic said.
"To know we're good against the top six in the West [only losing once], I think it shows we belong in that conversation. I know people won't say that on the outside, but we believe that in our group.
"It says a lot when we weren't happy with a draw [against Minnesota]. Now we go to Houston and Vancouver before our break, and it's a good opportunity to move up in the standings."
Houston sit four points behind Colorado in eighth place, but the teams below them are staying within touching distance.
After failing to win any of their last three matches, head coach Ben Osborn was asked what was missing from the team’s performances.
He said: "Goals are missing - finishing off some of these chances and I think the other part that's missing is understanding how to win games, or tie them, and find these moments where we are just more disciplined at times, so I think it's a combination of those two."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Latif Blessing
Blessing scored his first goal of the season on Saturday, the tenth different Dynamo player to find the net this season. He is one of nine to have just one goal this year, as only Ibrahim Aliyu (four goals) has scored multiple times for Houston in regular-season play in 2024.
Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro
Navarro has the longest active goalscoring streak in MLS, having found the net in five straight appearances. Navarro is the third Rapids player to score in five straight regular-season matches after Omar Cummings in 2010 and John Spencer, who did so in six straight games in 2003.
MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
Houston have won consecutive matches against Colorado after winning just two of the previous 16 meetings dating back to 2016 (seven draws, seven defeats). This is the Dynamo's first set of consecutive wins over Colorado since 2008-09.
However, the Dynamo's 2-1 defeat at the LA Galaxy on Saturday was their fifth loss in their last nine regular-season matches (two wins, two draws). Houston had suffered just two defeats in their previous 17 league matches dating back to last July.
Colorado came from 3-1 down in the final 30 minutes to draw Minnesota 3-3 on Saturday, ending a run of 19 straight losses when trailing by multiple goals. It marked the sixth time in team history, and first at home, that the Rapids had avoided defeat despite trailing by multiple goals after the hour mark.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 55.2%
Draw – 24.3%
Colorado Rapids – 20.4%
Mitrovic clinches last-gasp success for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal
Aleksandar Mitrovic produced a last-gasp winner for Al-Hilal as the Saudi Pro League champions signed off with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Al-Wedha on Monday.
Jorge Jesus' side finished the league campaign unbeaten across the 34-game season, though needed late heroics from top scorer Mitrovic to snatch all three points.
Mohamed Kanno opened the scoring for the visiting champions in the first half but Yahya Naji's second-half leveller pegged Al-Hilal back at King Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.
Yet Mitrovic provided the decisive moment in the 92nd minute, converting a Mohammed Al Burayk assist for his 28th league goal of the season.
The Serbia international ranks only behind Cristiano Ronaldo in this campaign's scoring charts, after the Al-Nassr forward claimed a piece of Saudi League history in a 4-2 victory over Al-Ittihad.
Ronaldo moved past Abderrazak Hamdallah's 34-goal tally – in the 2018-19 season – after his deadly double took him to 35 strikes and broke the single-season scoring record in the competition.
Victory for Al-Nassr means they finish second behind the impressive Al-Hilal, while Al-Ahli had already secured third in the standings before their 1-0 victory over Al-Fayha.
Roberto Firmino scored the only goal of the game in that narrow triumph, finding the net after 85 minutes at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium.
At the other end of the table, Abha Club – who had Marcel Tisserand sent off late on – suffered heartbreak on the final day after losing 2-1 to bottom-placed Al-Hazem to seal their relegation.
Ahmed Abdu opened the scoring to boost Abha's survival hopes but second-half goals from Muhammed Badamosi and Mohammed Al Thani proved their undoing.
Al-Akhoud beat the drop after overcoming Al-Tai, who went down with Abha and Al-Hazem, 2-0 thanks to goals from Saviour Godwin and Leandre Tawamba at Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium.
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