Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner hands out the scores from Vicarage Road
14:33, 02 May 2026Updated 15:32, 02 May 2026
Ellis Simms of Coventry City celebrates scoring a goal for their side to make it 3-0 and a hat-trick against Watford
Coventry City bid farewell to the Championship with a 28th victory of an historic promotion campaign, signing off in style with a 4-0 win at Watford.
An Ellis Simms hat-trick caused all the damage, with two first half goals added to by a third before the hour as the Sky Blue Army were in full party mood at Vicarage Road where Victor Torp finished the job with a fourth.
Simms got the end of season party started with a delightful header across the keeper to give the Sky Blues – all in chocolate brown – a deserved early lead on the road. And who better to set him up in the 19th minute than left-back Jake Bidwell on his 150th appearance for the club.
The home side went close to equalising on two occasions when the lively Nestory Irankunda first rounded Carl Rushworth before having his final shot cleared off the line. And a minute later the striker raced through on the left and thumped the foot of the keeper’s right-hand post.
But as soon as City had weathered that brief spell of pressure they had the ball up the other end of the pitch where Josh Eccles slipped a perfect sideways pass into Simms’ path for a first time shot that hit the back of the net to double the visitors’ lead two minutes before the break.
Although the Hornets attempted to get back in the game, Simms bagged a third just before the hour when Victor Torp pulled the ball back for a powerful first time shot from just outside the six-yard box.
Jamie Allen was among five second half subs and the stalwart midfielder was handed the armband for the remainder of the game and make a brilliant run down the left before feeding the ball into Torp for a thunderbolt of a fourth to top a brilliant afternoon for the Sky Blues fans.
Ellis Simms of Coventry City celebrates scoring to make it 2-0 against Watford
STARTING FORMATION: 4-2-3-1
CARL RUSHWORTH: 7
Used his feet well, knocking it about at the back and kicking long when required. Rounded by Irankunda in the first half but rarely troubled. Came out well and commanded his area. Anothetr clean sheet clinched the golden glove.
KAINE KESLER-HAYDEN: 7.5
Slotted in seamlessly to the right-back position in place of Milan van Ewijk, displaying decent pace to chase back and tackle and really looked the part in a rare start for the club.
LUKE WOOLFENDEN: 7
Read the game well and used his strength to out-muscle Irankunda early on. Defended well overall.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 7
Making his 100th City appearance, Latibeaudiere played on the front foot alongside Woolfenden. Cleared off the line to deny a first half equaliser.
JAKE BIDWELL: 8
Handed his 150th appearance, Bidwell came in to replace the rested Jay Dasilva and put in a typically robust defensive display at left-back and set up Simms with a lovely cross for the opening goal.
MATT GRIMES: 7
Dropped into the back four when required and controlled the middle of the park with his presence and impressive range of passing.
Ellis Simms of Coventry City celebrates scoring to make it 2-0 against Watford
VICTOR TORP: 8
Curled an early free-kick over the crossbar and made good use of the ball in midfield. Set up Simms for his third with a neat pull-back into the box and scored a brilliant fourth.
ROMAIN ESSE: 6.5
Took some nice touches on the right flank and worked hard to track runners and even made the occasional tackle to show a different side to his game aside from fancy tricks and flicks.
JOSH ECCLES: 7.5
Busy in the number ten slot and got into the box for an early attempt on goal when he headed on target but was denied by a really good save. Set up Simms for his second.
BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE: 6.5
Lively out wide where he made decent runs into the area and hit the side netting with an early attempt on goal. Busy throughout.
ELLIS SIMMS: 10
Made some strong and quick runs to stretch the Watford defence and nodded home in the 18th minute to give City the lead with a lovely header. Doubled the lead with a lovely first time shot before the break and completed his hat-trick just before the hour with a powerful first time shot from a Torp pull-back.
Ellis Simms of Coventry City celebrates scoring against Watford
SUBSTITUTES:
EPHRON MASON-CLARK (70 mins, for Esse): 6
Lively and a fresh attacking threat.
JAMIE ALLEN (70 mins, for Eccles): 8.5
Handed the armband and put in a vintage cameo including a brilliant run down the left to set up Torp for the fourth goal.
MILAN VAN EWIJK (70 mins, for Kesler-Hayden): 6
Added fresh legs, pace and an added attacking threat.
HAJI WRIGHT (79 mins, for Simms): 6
Worked hard and provided a fresh threat up front.
MIGUEL BRAU (87 mins, for Thomas-Asante): 5.5
Handed a few minutes at the end.
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching, Frank Onyeka.
WATFORD (4-2-3-1): Egil Selvik; James Abankwa, Saba Goglichidze, Mattie Pollock, Jeremy Ngakia; Imran Louza, Nampalys Mendy; Edo Kayembe, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Othmane Maamma; Nestory Irankunda.
Subs (not used): Nathan Baxter (GK), Kevin Keben, Tom Ince, Luca Kjerrumgaard, Edoardo Bove, Marc Bola, Pierre Ekwah, Mamadou Doumbia, Jack Grieves.
GOALS:
HORNETS:
SKY BLUES: Simms (19, 43, 58), Torp (85)
REFEREE: Ruebyn Ricardo
ATTENDANCE:
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Coventry City are back in the Premier League
The Coventry Telegraph has produced a stunning special edition marking the achievements of Frank Lampard and his men.
And to celebrate, the Coventry Telegraph has produced this stunning 48-page special edition marking the achievements of Frank Lampard and his men.
Since relegation in 2001, the Sky Blues have gone through many well-documented lows, but a quarter of a century later, free-scoring City have earned promotion in emphatic style.
And our bumper special edition is the perfect souvenir to remember that fantastic achievement by.
We’ll have match reports, pics, and reaction from every kick of City’s journey back to English football’s promised land.
It’s all here… the avalanche of goals pre-Christmas that made promotion look nailed on, the brief wobble that followed, and the revival under Lampard to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Plus, Sky Blues writer Andy Turner will have pages and pages of in-depth analysis on the title-winning season, manager Lampard’s success, key players, and what lies ahead for the club in the top flight.
Club historian Jim Brown will also share his fact-filled take on promotion, while there will be pictures and reports from the Sky Blues’ joyful promotion celebrations.
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