Coventry City will return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years after securing promotion from the Championship with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers on Friday.

The result confirmed automatic promotion for Frank Lampard’s side with three games remaining in the season.

Frank Lampard, in his first full campaign in charge, guided Coventry to 86 points from 43 matches, with the club spending 37 weeks at the top of the table. The Sky Blues now sit 11 points clear of second-placed Ipswich Town with games in hand and remain in contention to win the Championship title.

The decisive moment at Ewood Park came after Blackburn took the lead in the 54th minute through Ryoya Morishita, before Bobby Thomas equalised in the 84th minute with a header that sealed promotion.

Lampard described the achievement as a “special night” for the club, praising the fans and the long journey from League Two back to the Premier League. He also paid tribute to former manager Mark Robins for laying the foundations of the team’s rise.

Coventry’s promotion marks their return to England’s top flight since 2001 and could be followed by their first trophy in six years if they secure the Championship title.

Blackburn, meanwhile, earned a valuable point in their relegation battle, moving five points clear of danger after a strong defensive display.

Coventry’s success has been built on a largely settled squad, with key contributions from goalkeeper Carl Rushworth and mid-season additions such as Romain Esse and Frank Onyeka. Insiders credit Lampard’s leadership and steady influence for accelerating the club’s rise and shifting expectations from promotion push to title challenge.