Taiwo Awoniyi Coventry Goal came after three minutes as the Nigeria striker scored and assisted in Coventry’s thrilling 4-2 Carabao Cup win
Taiwo Awoniyi scored his first Coventry City goal on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, at Home Park in Plymouth, while manager Frank Lampard’s Coventry City defeated Plymouth Argyle 4-2 in the Carabao Cup second round to reach the third round.
The 29-year-old Nigeria international needed only three minutes to open his Coventry account, producing a composed right-footed finish into the bottom-right corner after being set up by Ghanaian midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi.
Awoniyi then turned provider two minutes later, supplying Jack Rudoni for Coventry’s second goal as the visitors made a blistering start at Home Park.
Plymouth responded through Oliver Irow in the 21st minute before Xavier Amaechi levelled the contest nine minutes after half-time, turning what had looked like a comfortable Coventry evening into a tense cup tie.
Coventry eventually regained control when substitute Ephron Mason-Clark restored the lead in the 67th minute.
Victor Torp then converted a penalty in the 78th minute to complete a 4-2 victory and secure progression to the next round.
For Awoniyi, the performance was an encouraging response after his difficult opening to life back in the Premier League.
His goal was his first for Coventry and his first in competitive football since scoring twice for Nottingham Forest against Chelsea last season.
The striker joined Coventry permanently from Nottingham Forest earlier this month in a deal reported to be worth about £9 million, becoming one of the club’s significant attacking additions following promotion to the Premier League.
Awoniyi spent four seasons at Forest, scoring 21 Premier League goals in 90 appearances.
His most productive campaign came in his first season at the City Ground, when 11 league goals helped Forest preserve their top-flight status following promotion.
He also contributed during Forest’s subsequent rise, including the club’s seventh-place Premier League finish in 2024/25 that secured European football.
Coventry’s move for Awoniyi reflects the club’s need for proven top-flight experience after returning to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.
Lampard’s side began their league campaign with a 3-0 defeat by Arsenal, making the cup victory at Plymouth an important early lift.
Lampard used the match to assess his squad ahead of Coventry’s first home Premier League fixture against Hull City on Saturday.
The victory also gave the newly promoted side its first competitive win of the season.
Awoniyi’s contribution was particularly striking because his impact arrived almost immediately.
A goal inside three minutes followed by an assist two minutes later gave Coventry the attacking spark the club had been seeking.
The Nigerian will now hope the performance provides a platform for a productive first season at Coventry, with the Premier League campaign still in its early stages.
For Lampard, the 4-2 result offered both encouragement and a warning. Coventry demonstrated the attacking quality to score four times away from home, but surrendering a two-goal advantage before recovering highlighted the demands awaiting the side in the top flight.
The Carabao Cup victory ultimately delivered the result Coventry needed, while Awoniyi emerged as the evening’s most significant individual positive.
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