Promotion would be 'magical' but Lampard staying focused

Frank Lampard has won 16 and lost 10 of his 31 games in charge of Coventry City

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard says taking the club back to the Premier League after 25 years would be "magical" but knows they "can't get caught up in all that" as they prepare to play Sunderland in the Championship play-offs.

The Sky Blues take on the Black Cats at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday in the first leg before the return next Tuesday at the Stadium of Light, with both matches kicking-off at 20:00 BST.

After clinching their top-six spot on the final day of the season with victory over Middlesbrough, Coventry stand three games away from a return to the top flight for the first time since 2000-01.

"We have to focus on three games, and specifically one now, and then the away leg to see what we can do," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"It's exciting that we're here because everyone wants to be in the play-offs.

"Yeah, for sure, it would be magical [promotion] but we've got three games before we get there - we can't get caught up in all that."

England and Chelsea legend Lampard has masterminded an outstanding recovery since he replaced the popular Mark Robins in late November, guiding the club from 17th and only two points above the relegation zone into the top six.

A sparkling run of nine wins in 10 at the start of the year shot the Sky Blues into contention.

Despite dropping back out of the play-off places after three defeats in four, wins over Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion and Boro were enough to keep their promotion hopes intact.

"Considering where we were November and December, [going up] would mean a lot," said Lampard, 46.

"The players have worked hard and owned it and worked up the table.

"The club has a great history of FA Cup finals and playing top-tier football. So I understand the responsibility of that.

"Personally it would mean a great deal. We want success."

Play-offs 'not expected' on arrival

The Sky Blues, winners of the FA Cup in 1987, came agonisingly close to ending their top-flight exile in 2023 when they lost to Luton in the play-off final on penalties.

Last season, they were beaten in an all-time classic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in extra-time by eventual winners Manchester United.

But when he arrived, Lampard knew trying to live up to that was not the right way to go about things.

So reaching the play-offs has come as a pleasant surprise.

"This club's had some great success in recent years - moving up the leagues, play-off final, FA Cup semi-final," he said.

"If I'd have expected to make the play-offs when I came in that would have been the wrong position - we needed to take it step by step, we were 17th for a reason.

"We were in a relegation fight and I'd didn't expect it at all. When I came in it was a case of how many steps can we take?

"It doesn't mean anything at the moment - it's what we do from now."

'We have to maximise home advantage'

Haji Wright scored a hat-trick in Coventry's 3-0 win over Sunderland at the CBS Arena in March

Coventry meet a Sunderland side whose form has dipped sharply after a season of outstanding consistency.

Regis le Bris' Black Cats have spent almost six months in the play-off places but a run of five defeats in a row at the end of the season has sapped their momentum.

But Lampard still believes they will cause his side problems.

"Sunderland's momentum maybe has been hit by how good they been over the whole season," he said.

"It can be natural. They're been in the play-off places for a long time, so we can't disrespect the team they've been.

"We have to expect their best version but hopefully our momentum can work for us."

A lot of that has been generated by the Sky Blues' excellent home form, which has brought 14 wins - a record only bettered by Sheffield United and champions Leeds.

Their only defeats in their last 11 at the CBS Arena came against top-two Burnley and Leeds, with one of the nine wins a 3-0 victory against Sunderland at home in March.

"We have to maximise home advantage - we've been strong this season," Lampard said.

"We've drawn confidence from that and worked out what we want to try to be at home - how we want to feel about ourselves - and we've managed to get good form out of it.

"We have to trust in ourselves. Everyone will be drawn to our home form but we know it may not go that way and we may have to go to our away form.

"I understand nothing will be done after the first leg."