Coventry 0-5 Brighton: Sky Blues implode as Awoniyi sees red on shocking afternoon for Frank Lampard

Coventry remain without a point in the Premier League this season after a terrible afternoon against Brighton.

The Sky Blues went down 5-0 and sent off summer signing Taiwo Awoniyi for a shocking elbow on Maxime De Cuyper.

It was another disappointing collapse from Coventry who competed well in an even first half hour. But their confidence was visibly drained when Charalampos Kostoulas put the visitors ahead 10 minutes before the break.

Malick Yalcouyé doubled Brighton’s lead six minutes after the restart and Coventry’s challenge was effectively ended due to Awoniyi’s moment of madness soon after.

Brighton showed no mercy and Pascal Gross added a third from the penalty spot after Bobby Thomas’ silly foul on Kostoulas before Lewis Dunk hammered a spectacular fourth into the top corner from 25 yards.

There was still time for Yasin Ayari to add a fifth with another superb strike to send the Seagulls into fourth place.

Having lost their first game at home to Hull, in between defeats to Arsenal and Manchester City, the onus was on Frank Lampard, but they started nervously and should have been a goal down within six minutes. Jay Dasilva made a horrible mess of a clearance and the ball fell nicely for Diego Gomez but he fired his shot from 12 yards.

Ephron Mason-Clarke threatened at the other end while Coventry’s Jack Rudoni headed over when well placed.

Rudoni went close again on the half hour, connecting well with a volley at the far post, but his shot was superbly saved by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Coventry were looking for their first Premier League goal since 2001 and almost came three minutes later when Frank Onyeka curled in a volley only to see his effort tipped over by Verbruggen.

But just as Coventry were getting on top, they were caught out by a punch at the other end. Kostoulas was quicker to react to a ball bouncing in the box, put it into his path and fired decisively past Carl Rushworth.

Coventry went into half-time still very much in the game, but the momentum swung firmly in Brighton’s favor after the restart.

Yalcouye made it 2-0 for the visitors with a determined run and composed finish before Awoniyi suffered a complete no-head when he elbowed De Cuyper in the face.

The atmosphere inside the CBS Arena fell flat and Brighton got going.

Gross slotted home from the spot after Kostoulas fell, Dunk smashed one into the top corner and Ayari showed clinical finishing with a late shot past the helpless Rushworth.

Premier League table