Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has demanded a sharper, more forward-thinking approach from his players after a difficult start to their Premier League campaign. The Sky Blues sit 17th in the table with zero points from their opening two matches, having failed to score while conceding four goals, and face a daunting trip to leaders Manchester City on September 5th.
According to a report in the Coventry Telegraph this week, Lampard analysed the III-0 defeat to Hull City, a team they finished 22 points above last season. He acknowledged his team played too much slow possession football against a disciplined Hull side that deployed a back five and focused on counter-attacks and set-pieces. "We’re not here to play possession football," Lampard said. "I would understand why you’d look at it (against Hull) and think we were but that’s not us because we have played too much possession football and too slow."
What has gone wrong in the opening games?
Coventry's return to the top flight after 25 years began with a home defeat at the CBS Arena against Arsenal, followed by the loss at Hull. While Lampard accepted the occasion and level of opposition in the opener was a valid factor, he is less forgiving of the performance against the Tigers. The manager has pointed to a need for his players to be calmer both on and off the ball, to work and focus, and to stay mentally strong through this challenging period.
Individual performances have also dipped below the high standards set last season. The team has also been managing some fitness niggles, with Ephron missing pre-season and Rudi only recently returning, which has impacted rhythm. New signing Ethan Pinnock, arriving from Brentford, is part of a squad adapting to the unforgiving pace and quality of the Premier League. You can view the full squad depth on our squad page.
How does Lampard want the team to change?
The core message from the manager is about tempo and intent. Lampard wants his side to "get up off the pitch quickly" and to review and correct their decision-making to favour playing forward rather than taking the safe option. This call for urgency comes as Coventry City prepare for perhaps their toughest test of the season. They travel to face a Manchester City side that sits first in the standings, with the Sky Blues already six points behind them in the early title race.
Lampard's tactical setup against Hull was a back four, with the team attempting to play front-foot football, but the execution was lacking. The balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat, a constant challenge for newly-promoted sides, is still being found. The stark reality is a goal difference of -4 and a need to find attacking momentum quickly.
What is the immediate challenge ahead?
The fixture list offers no respite. Next up is an away match against the reigning champions on September 5th. Hull City, Coventry's last opponents, have shown what is possible by beating both Manchester United and the Sky Blues in their last two outings, proving that well-organised teams can upset the odds. Lampard will be drilling his side on those lessons this week.
He retains perspective, noting the long season ahead. "There are a lot of games to come in the league. I’ve seen both succeed and fail," he stated. The immediate focus, however, is on producing a reaction and a performance that can compete with the best. Fans can follow the team's progress and upcoming challenges on our fixtures schedule. The next opportunity comes at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
