Coventry City vs Plymouth Argyle. Sky Bet Championship.
The Coventry Building Society ArenaAttendance29,420.
Coventry City 4
- T Sakamoto (5th minute)
- J Eccles (20th minute, 45th minute)
- E Mason-Clark (39th minute)
Plymouth Argyle 0
- C Wright (sent off 87th minute)
Coventry City 4-0 Plymouth Argyle: Frank Lampard's side thump Wayne Rooney's sorry Pilgrims
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Boxing Day; Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, a Josh Eccles double and Ephron Mason-Clark score in Sky Blues victory
Thursday 26 December 2024 18:18, UK
Josh Eccles scored twice in Coventry's 4-0 thumping of Sky Bet Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle that increases the pressure on Pilgrims boss Wayne Rooney.
This was Rooney's first managerial meeting against former England colleague Frank Lampard whose Sky Blues side clinically punished a woeful first-half performance from the visitors.
All four of City's goals came before the break rendering the second half a formality, as the hosts moved up to 14th while leaving Plymouth bottom of the pile, three points adrift of safety after another capitulation on their travels.
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It took Coventry just over three minutes to forge their first opportunity as Jake Bidwell's cross ran for Jack Rudoni, who headed wide at the back post.
In the fifth minute came another reminder of why Plymouth have the worst defensive record in the division as Coventry took the lead when Tatsuhiro Sakamoto was allowed a free header from Ben Sheaf's cross that Pilgrims goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw could not keep out.
The Sky Blues doubled their advantage in the 20th minute following a fine move that involved Bidwell heading down for Ephron Mason-Clark who laid the ball off for Eccles and he buried a low drive from just outside the area.
The afternoon could not have been going any better for the hosts and they netted a third in the 39th minute when Mason-Clark beat the offside trap to run onto Eccles' ball over the top and finish beyond the helpless Grimshaw.
Plymouth's limp first-half display was summed up just before half-time when Adam Randell was caught in possession just outside his own box by Rudoni, with Eccles taking over to find the bottom corner for his second and the Sky Blues' fourth.
Sixteen-year-old Tegan Finn, making his first start for the Pilgrims, almost pulled one back in first-half stoppage time when his curling effort needed tipping over by Oliver Dovin.
Four goals down at the break, Plymouth tried to restore some pride early in the second half, but both Callum Wright and Rami Al Hajj were off target with a couple of overly ambitious efforts.
Victor Torp had come on for Mason-Clark during half-time and he almost bent in a wonderful fifth for the Sky Blues on the hour, only for Grimshaw to deny him with a flying save.
The former Manchester City youngster then nearly gifted the hosts another goal when he fumbled Ellis Simms' shot before gathering at the second attempt.
Coventry substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante almost livened up what was a processional second half with 10 minutes left when Grimshaw had to get down to push away his shot.
The damage had long been done, but there was still one final moment of ignominy for Plymouth as Wright was sent off for a wild lunge on Joel Latibeaudiere in the 87th minute.
Lampard: It was a good day | Rooney: It wasn't good enough
Coventry's Frank Lampard:
"I really liked our performance. As soon as we got the goal it settled us and we felt the confidence in the stadium. We limited them and controlled the game.
"Second half we were professional. The clean sheet was big for us today. We also got to give some players some game time who hadn't played many minutes. It was a good day all around for us."
Plymouth's Wayne Rooney:
"It was bad. Not a great performance. Defensively we struggled as individuals and as a team. Coventry obviously took advantage of that. The goals were preventable and obviously we conceded four, which I thought was avoidable. First half was very bad.
"It's clear we're two different teams. At home we're a very good team and can compete with any team in this league. Away we've really struggled. We've tried so many different things to get better results away from home.
"It's frustrating, of course. Disappointing for all of us - the players, coaches and the fans. 1,200 fans have travelled here today, and the first half was nowhere near good enough."
