Taiwo Awoniyi endured a miserable afternoon as Brighton thrashed Coventry 5-0 in Sunday's Premier League fixture, with his fellow Super Eagle Frank Onyeka also featuring before being substituted late in the game.

Awoniyi, making his fourth appearance for Coventry, was shown a red card in the 53rd minute after catching Maxim De Cuyper with an elbow — a moment that effectively ended any remaining hope of a Coventry comeback.

Brighton's commanding performance

The contest was already tilting Brighton's way at the break, thanks to Charalampos Kostoulas, who broke the deadlock with his first league goal since January to give the Seagulls a half-time lead.

The second half turned into a rout. Malick Yalcouye doubled Brighton's advantage just nine minutes after the restart, moments before Awoniyi's dismissal compounded Coventry's misery.

Brighton then pulled away with ruthless efficiency. Pascal Gross converted from the penalty spot, Lewis Dunk hammered home from 25 yards, and Yasin Ayari rounded off a commanding five-goal display.

Nigerian involvement

Onyeka put in a shift for Coventry before being replaced by Yirenkyi in the 73rd minute, while a third Nigerian — whose name was reported as Azeez — was absent from the matchday squad altogether.

The red card means Awoniyi will serve a suspension in Coventry's next league fixture, adding further pressure on a side who suffered a heavy home defeat.