COVENTRY City scored a late equaliser to secure promotion to the Premier League and end the club’s 25-year wait for a top flight return.
A late header from Bobby Thomas earned the Sky Blues a point at Blackburn Rovers after Ryoya Morishita’s deflected strike had threatened to delay Coventry’s promotion party.
Morishita’s goal early in the second period put Rovers ahead only for Thomas to equalise for the Sky Blues six minutes from time at Ewood Park to the sheer joy of the more than 7,000 travelling Coventry supporters.
Coventry almost made the perfect start when Milan van Ewijk’s long throw from the right caused havoc in the box and Jack Rudoni saw his goalbound effort blocked.
However, Rovers spurned the best chance of the first half with Yuki Ohashi only able to glance a header straight at Carl Rushworth when left unmarked six-yards from goal.
The visitors responded with a chance of their own as Rudoni burst into the penalty area only to lash a shot into the side netting while City blocked Morishita’s effort in first-half injury time.
However, Blackburn broke the deadlock on 54 minutes when the ball broke kindly to Morishita in the box and the midfielder’s deflected effort found the net from eight-yards out.
The Sky Blues almost drew level with 20 minutes left to play as Rudoni headed a cross from the right onto the inside of the post as the ball bounced agonisingly to safety.
However, Coventry found an equaliser on 84 minutes when Thomas glanced substitute Victor Torp’s dangerous free-kick from the right into the net from six-yards out.
The historic moment was greeted by wild celebrations in the away end as the Sky Blues controlled the final few minutes and duly celebrated their return to the Premier League with three games left to play.
