EPL: Awoniyi sent off as Brighton thrash Coventry 5-0

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Brighton thrashed 10-man Coventry 5-0 on Sunday to move into fourth place in the Premier League and leave Frank Lampard’s side rooted to the bottom of the table.

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Charalampos Kostoulas put Brighton ahead in the first half and Malick Yalcouye doubled their lead soon after the interval.

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Coventry striker Taiwo Awoniyi was sent off for violent conduct in the second half.

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Pascal Gross netted from the penalty spot, and Lewis Dunk curled home from long range.

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Yasin Ayari wrapped up Brighton’s emphatic victory as Coventry’s frustrated fans flooded to the exits well before the final whistle.

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Coventry are still looking for their first Premier League goal since 2001 after going scoreless while losing their first four top-flight matches this season.

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Lampard’s men are the only Premier League team without a point this season.

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The Sky Blues were promoted from the Championship last season to end their 25-year exile from the Premier League.

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“It’s a difficult scoreline, and it’s not easy at home,” Lampard said.

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“The first half was pretty good; we created some chances and we had them under a lot of pressure. Then a mistake to make it 2-0 and the red card makes it very difficult.

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“We have to take responsibility. We did some good stuff, then the game became very, very difficult for us. We have to keep working.”

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Brighton are into the top four after winning for the second time this term and the first since their 4-0 rout of Aston Villa on the opening weekend.

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“It’s important to stay humble and not take these things for granted,” Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said.

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“Overall we are a team where a lot of players can score goals and that brings us a lot of flexibility which is good for a coach as well.”

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Coventry threatened early on when Jay Dasilva picked out Jack Rudoni and the midfielder’s cushioned volley forced a superb save from Bart Verbruggen.

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Verbruggen made another eye-catching stop to repel Frank Onyeka’s volley after the midfielder cleverly flicked the ball up for his shot.

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Brighton took the lead in the 35th minute thanks to Kostoulas’s inspired moment.

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The teenage Greek striker astutely nodded Gross’s pass beyond two Coventry defenders and turned to drill a fine finish past Carl Rushworth.

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Yalcouye put Coventry in command, accelerating away from the defence to double Brighton’s advantage with a clinical strike in the 51st minute.

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A miserable day for Coventry took a turn for the worse two minutes later when Awoniyi was dismissed for clattering Maxim De Cuyper in the face with his elbow.

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Brighton piled on the misery for Lampard, netting for the third time in the 70th minute.

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Bobby Thomas’s foul on Kostoulas conceded a penalty that Gross slotted home with ease.

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Dunk scored the goal of the day in the 83rd minute, curling a spectacular effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

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Ayari put the seal on Brighton’s rampant performance in stoppage time as he whipped a composed low strike past Rushworth.

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AFP

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