Phil Bardsley has backed Frank Lampard to lead Coventry City forward after their first Premier League victories of the season. The former Sunderland defender believes the recent wins can be a platform for progress, with the club sitting 15th in the Premier League on six points from two wins and four defeats.

Bardsley, who came through Manchester United's academy, acknowledged the unique challenge of the top flight. "Frank Lampard’s experienced, but we all know the Premier League’s a completely different animal and they’re finding that out quite quickly," he said. He pointed to a tough early fixture list but feels the team can now play with more freedom after a recent run of two wins and three losses in their last five games.

"What he’s done there is incredible and after they got that first win under their belt, I think they’ll find a bit more freedom, the shackles will come off a little bit, and I think they’ll go on a run," Bardsley added. He stopped short of guaranteeing survival but insisted Lampard is the right man for the job regardless. "Will they stay up?

Recent wins spark hope

The Sky Blues ended a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest in September, where Jay Dasilva scored the only goal, and a memorable 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United last Monday. That result saw Jack Rudoni score a sixth-minute penalty, Coventry's first Premier League goal in front of their own fans at the Coventry Building Society Arena since April 2001. Sidiki Cherif, Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni also found the net, with Sven Botman grabbing a consolation for Newcastle.

Those six points have lifted Coventry to 15th in the standings, level on points with Manchester United. Their record stands at two wins and four defeats from six matches, with five goals scored and eleven conceded, leaving them fifteen points behind the league leaders.

Bardsley compared the club's situation to his time at Sunderland, noting the financial constraints newly-promoted sides face. "It’s always going to be difficult for a club coming up from the Championship to the Premier League, but that’s where you put your foundations in and try to build season on season," he said.

Coventry's next test is a trip to face Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently bottom of the table, on Monday 19 October. This follows a difficult run of results that included losses to Aston Villa, Brighton, and Manchester City before the recent upturn.

The original report is at The Coventry Observer