Haji Wright scored a hat-trick as Coventry moved back into the play-off places with a 3-0 victory over fourth-placed Sunderland at the CBS Arena.
The USA international last scored in the Sky Blues’ trip to Sunderland on November 9 but he also sustained an ankle injury in the same game that meant he spent almost four months on the sidelines.
Frank Lampard’s side had dropped out of the top six after a disappointing defeat to relegation-threatened Derby in midweek coupled with Bristol City’s 2-1 win over Norwich on Friday night.
Despite missing a considerable part of the season, Wright started the day as Coventry’s top scorer with seven, and he put Coventry ahead with his first goal in over 120 days.
Wright received Victor Torp’s pass and cut inside Luke O’Nien before drilling a low left-footed strike beyond goalkeeper Anthony Patterson from outside the box.
The American then won and converted the penalty that doubled Coventry’s lead. Wales international Chris Mepham stuck out a leg to send Wright sprawling to the turf before he dusted himself down and calmly slotted in the resulting spot-kick.
The 26-year-old was almost in for his hat-trick when Jamie Allen’s pass was cut out at the last second.
Defender Bobby Thomas had scored three goals in his previous six outings and could have added to his tally when he headed wide from Torp’s pinpoint free-kick.
Tempers flared after half-time when Chris Rigg’s tackle on Tatsuhiro Sakamoto earned him a yellow card.
Coventry had struggled to put games to bed in a run which had seen them win nine of their 11 league games, and Sunderland had Patterson to thank when he got down low to keep out Thomas’s firm header.
But Wright was not to be denied his first hat-trick in English football as he latched onto Torp’s pass once again before lifting a superb effort over Patterson.
Sunderland had won two and drawn one of their previous three games following back-to-back defeats to Leeds and Hull in February, but they barely laid a glove on Coventry to extend a run of not winning away at the Sky Blues to over 40 years.
Eliezer Mayenda looked the most lively for the Black Cats, exchanging a quick one-two with Romaine Mundle before his tame effort was gathered by Oliver Dovin.
The Spaniard then broke free of the Coventry defence but dragged his effort wide of the far post.
Sunderland introduced top scorer Wilson Isidor as they went in search of a consolation, but he volleyed an effort wide as the Black Cats mustered just one shot on target.
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The managers
Coventry’s Frank Lampard:
To follow…
Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris:
To follow…
