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Haji Wright and Milan van Ewijk celebrate Coventry's win. Alamy Stock Photo

Stoppage time winner gets Coventry off the mark after five-goal battle

Haji Wright was on target twice as Coventry defeated Oxford in their Championship opener.

HAJI WRIGHTโ€™S GOAL six minutes into stoppage time earned Coventry their first victory of the season as the Sky Blues left it late to beat Oxford 3-2.

Mark Robinsโ€™ men had been a goal to the good twice through Wright and Milan van Ewijk, but were pulled back first by Ciaran Brown and then Mark Harris before the American sealed all three points.

Wright was the star man for the Sky Blues as he opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he powered home a header following Van Ewijkโ€™s inviting cross from the right.

The USA international was inches away from teeing up the flying Ellis Simms as he flashed his cross across goal.

Simms had been the Sky Bluesโ€™ top scorer last season but it was indecisiveness in his own box which allowed Brown to nip in and lash home an equaliser.

The Sky Blues had thrashed the Yellows 6-2 when the pair met in the FA Cup third round back in January and it was they who made all the running in the first half.

Jack Rudoni, making his home debut after moving from Huddersfield in the summer, unleashed a powerful left-footed effort which whistled past the post with Jamie Cumming sprawling to his right.

Wright should have put Coventry back in front but his point-blank header was straight into the arms of Cumming.

Coventry were searching for their first league win since a 1-0 victory over Leeds on 6 April, a run stretching seven games either side of the summer break.

Robinsโ€™ men were deservedly back ahead when Van Ewijk met a loose ball across the box and rifled his effort into the bottom corner.

The CBS Arena was stunned after the break when Harris, who was also on the scoresheet during Oxfordโ€™s opening day win last weekend, bundled Reuben Rodriguesโ€™ cross into the net to level the score.

A point would have been Oxfordโ€™s first on the road in the second tier since a 0-0 draw at Bradford City in May 1999.

Cumming was in brilliant form himself as he tried to preserve the Usโ€™ point, withstanding a second-half onslaught when he flew across his line to prevent Luis Binksโ€™ back-post header, whilst making a brilliant double save from Wright and then debutant Ephron Mason-Clark.

But Wright was to have the last laugh when he latched onto Will Vaulksโ€™ poor backpass and coolly rounded Cumming before slotting into an empty net.

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    Mute Barry Murphy
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:06 PM

    Super Hoops. Doing the LOI proud. A classy, dominant performance. Great to see, regardless who you support.

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    Mute Mike Courtney
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:06 PM

    Great for League of Ireland. Well done, Rovers.

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Dec 12th 2024, 9:55 PM

    Great result for the Shams. Celtic might take another look at Kenny and give him a go there.

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:30 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: He is only on loan with SR

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:08 PM

    @Shanie: hence my comment about Celtic.

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:11 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: hence why he will be looked at non stop

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:24 PM

    @Shanie: rumour had it they were not keen on keeping him.

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:25 PM

    @Ian Cunningham: Heโ€™s already been recalled by Rodgers .

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:50 PM

    @Gerry Ivie: Really nice

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    Mute Max
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    Dec 13th 2024, 12:25 AM

    @Ian Cunningham: Rumourโ€™s rumourโ€™s

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    Mute john O'Brien
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    Dec 13th 2024, 6:40 AM

    @Ian Cunningham: Hed be far better off staying with Shamrock Rovers if he can than go to Scotland

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    Mute Darragh O'Leary
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:35 PM

    Well done Rovers great performance, puts the league of Ireland out there and show people itโ€™s at a high standard, not a Rovers fan put was cheering them on in every European match well done Stephen Bradley and staffโ€ฆ

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    Mute Jim Colhoun
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:13 PM

    Someone mentioned Celtic, who cares about them,Its all about Rovers, every L O I supporter should be proud ? Incedently was any of The Irish management there probably not ,more likely if there was a lower league match on England or Scotland theyโ€™d most likely be at it

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    Mute Ian Cunningham
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:26 PM

    @Jim Colhoun: that would be me, because Johnny Kenny is their player, though they havenโ€™t seemed to rate him. His performances in Rurope might change that.

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    Mute Daire Cathal Greene
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:21 PM

    @Jim Colhoun: Hallgrimmsson has been at a lot of LoI grounds since he took over.

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    Mute Teddy O neill
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:37 PM

    Kenny for ireland

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:52 PM

    @Teddy O neill: Better than idah

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    Mute John arse
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:16 PM

    Jeez, great win for Rovers there- surely a Chelsea- Rovers final???

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:31 PM

    Amazing stuff

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:31 PM

    A lot of empty seats for an historical occasion!

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    Mute Raymond Darcy
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    Dec 12th 2024, 10:35 PM

    @Alan Kennedy: ouch but true

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    Mute Tony O'Connor
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:46 PM

    @Alan Kennedy: 7442 not bad for December KOH

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    Mute Raymond Darcy
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    Dec 13th 2024, 12:22 AM

    @Comments Section Closed: Bohs lol

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    Mute Ellis Dewald
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    Dec 13th 2024, 7:03 AM

    @Comments Section Closed: honest question why are bohs such a sh*t team! Linfield B team Linfield B team hello hello!

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    Mute Seamus kelly
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    Dec 12th 2024, 11:40 PM

    Thrilled for the hoopsโ€ฆonly culchie i know who supported them sonce the 60sโ€ฆtheyโ€™re always welcome in Shannon Airport

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    Mute Lesidees
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    Dec 13th 2024, 8:52 AM

    Letโ€™s hope Chelsea rest a few players next week. Otherwise it could be a case of so close yet so far

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