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Jack Rudoni gives Coventry an early lead with a fifth goal of the season Coventry moved into the Championship play-off places after edging a thrilling contest 3-2 against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. Victory was secured at the end of a rollercoaster afternoon with a winning goal from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, the midfielder slamming home a superb finish off the inside of the post. Twice Coventry were pegged back by Oxford and saw home goalkeeper Jamie Cumming save an Ellis Simms penalty three minutes before the final goal of an entertaining game. Oxford's Michal Helik might have equalised for a third time when forcing a late save from Oliver Dovin deep into stoppage time. A win continued an impressive rise for the Sky Blues under Frank Lampard with their eighth win in nine league games taking them into fifth place ahead of the 15: 00 GMT kick-offs. Defeat was the U's third in a row and keeps them, for now, eight points clear of the bottom three. While Oxford can take positives from this match despite it continuing their own run of seven games without a win, this has been some rise for Coventry who were in 17th place on Boxing Day. Jack Rudoni put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute, his diving header meeting the outstanding Sukamoto's pinpoint cross. Rudoni appeared to injure his shoulder in the process and was substituted just before half-time but he left the field with Coventry seemingly in complete control of the match. That control was to evaporate though in a tumultuous second half in which Ole Romeny first goal in English football equalised for Oxford before Ephron Mason-Clarke restored Coventry's lead, capitalising on a mistake from Cumming. Then Elliott Moore equalised again, heading home from a corner. Coventry were given a potential lifeline when they were awarded a penalty on 68 minutes after multiple instances of holding at a corner. But, in another twist, Simms' tame effort was kept out by Cumming before Jake Bidwell hit the bar with the follow up. That miss did not cost the Sky Blues as three minutes later Sakamoto's brilliant finish, firing in off the inside of the far post after Bidwell's cross from the left found its way to him 10 yards out, settled matters in Coventry's favour. Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford: "Even in this recent run of form I look at all the games that have been close. It is little moments. I thought we have been incredibly competitive today. You didn't see a team feeling sorry for themselves, we kept going and we kept fighting. "Sometimes it comes down to that little bit of quality like their third goal which was an incredible finish. "But it was nice to get back on it a little bit today and look more dangerous and create more chances. " Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard told BBC CWR: "We were not at our best today but I think that can happen with these sorts of games. Possibly the early goal gave us a sense that we were really controlling the game but that went away. "At this stage when we are trying to churn out results and points you've got to look at the team when you are not at your best and say 'can you win games? ' Three goals and we missed a penalty so we managed to do it. "We lacked that element of control but I liked our reactions to the goals in the second half and the bits of quality. "Jack Rudoni's shoulder dislocated [when scoring]. It popped out and back in again so we will have to have a look at that. Great goal from him and wonderful cross from Tatsu [Sakamoto]. He is looking really sharp at the minute so it will be a shame if we lose him for a bit. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 1st March 2025 at 15: 48 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Gary Rowett Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Frank Lampard Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Gary Rowett Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Frank Lampard Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Try our advanced match stats, including in-depth attacking and defensive stats Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Oxford United have lost just one of their last five home league games against Coventry City (W3 D1), scoring 11 goals in total across that time. After winning the reverse fixture 3-2 in August, Coventry City will be looking to complete just a second league double over Oxford United alongside the 1985-86 season. Oxford have failed to win any of their last six league games (D3 L3), failing to score in each of their last four. The U’s haven’t endured a longer run without scoring since a five-match stint in October 1996. Coventry have won seven of their last eight league games (L1), as many as across their prior 32 Championship outings combined since April last year. Since the weekend of Frank Lampard’s first match in charge of Coventry at the end of November, only the current top three of Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley have earned more points in the Championship than the Sky Blues (32). Match ends, Oxford United 2, Coventry City 3. Second Half ends, Oxford United 2, Coventry City 3. Attempt saved. Michal Helik (Oxford United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Attempt missed. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner. Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Oliver Dovin. Foul by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Coventry City). Alex Matos (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Offside, Coventry City. Haji Wright is caught offside. Offside, Oxford United. Matt Phillips is caught offside. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Substitution, Coventry City. Jamie Paterson replaces Ephron Mason-Clark. Substitution, Coventry City. Jamie Allen replaces Josh Eccles. Substitution, Oxford United. Siriki Dembélé replaces Ole Romeny. Oliver Dovin (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card. Attempt missed. Michal Helik (Oxford United) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Tyler Goodrham with a cross following a corner. Corner, Oxford United. Conceded by Liam Kitching. Liam Kitching (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Liam Kitching (Coventry City). Stanley Mills (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Ciaron Brown. 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