Coventry City

Rob Gurney
BBC CWR

On the face of it, Coventry City's squad isn't significantly stronger than it was at the end of last season, in fact you can make the argument it looks weaker.

Former club captain Ben Sheaf's departure to Wrexham on the last day of the window came as a surprise to many, as did the non-arrival of a replacement, leaving Jamie Allen and Josh Eccles to shoulder the burden if injuries to Victor Torp and Matt Grimes hit.

Equally, keeping star playmaker Jack Rudoni was vital, and to a lesser extent Milan van Ewijk and Bobby Thomas, while signing Luke Woolfenden from Ipswich in the closing hours looks like good business after allowing Luis Binks to go earlier in the window.

Woolfenden comes with considerably more experience, and much cheaper than Hull's Charlie Hughes, whose eight figure price tag clearly frightened off City in the end.

It's fair to say the jury is still out on goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, as well as full-backs Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Miguel Brau, while Brad Collins, Norman Bassette, Justin Obikwu and Raphael will all get game time out on loan.

But is there enough strength in depth? That's the nagging doubt for me.

"I wouldn't be surprised if at least one centre-back comes in by the end of play today."

BBC CWR's Lorna Bailey and Will Oelrich take a first look at Transfer Deadline Day as they discuss any late business for Coventry City.

And as Wrexham close in on Ben Sheaf for a reported £6.5m there could be more potential outgoings at the club.

Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard admits his overriding emotion was disappointment after his side were held to a 2-2 draw at Oxford United.

The Sky Blues twice led, but could not go on to secure a third successive Championship win.

Victory would have taken them second, but they sit fifth after Cameron Brannagan's second half free-kick salvaged a first point of the season for the Us.

"I'm disappointed to drop points," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR.

"They made the second half difficult for us without doubt, but the first half was probably as good as you can play without being two, three, four up. Our play was brilliant.

"The second half was different, fair play to them. They put it behind us, were more direct, opened the game up and we couldn't quite wrestle it back and never got that control again.

"Then we had that massive chance at the end so for sure, we're disappointed to have dropped two points."

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard says he is "happy" with his team's league performances and the feeling around the club, despite losing to Millwall in the second round of the EFL Cup.

The Sky Blues lost 2-1 to Millwall in Tuesday's cup game after a late penalty converted by Haji Wright wasn't enough to see them take the game to a penalty shootout.

Coventry are unbeaten in the league after winning two and drawing one of their opening three fixtures and visit Oxford on Saturday.

"Millwall was a game we never want to lose," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR. "We made a lot of changes which was important to do for different reasons, and it was a shame to lose it but we have to get straight back in to the mindset of the league and going into the international break.

"It is going to be a very tough match, and we felt that at Oxford last season.

"I'm happy with the league, other than the Hull game which we drew, which we probably should of won, but we probably weren't out at 100% - which can happen.

"Since then I have been happy with performance, with the attitude of the players and the feeling around the place.

"It is just the start, once we get through this game that is the first tiny block of the season done. I'm happy with what the players have put in, but it is always about the next game and not relying on things that have happened.

"At this point we are in a good place but we must stay on guard, as we need to stay motivated for every single game."

Coventry are the highest scorers in the division with 12 goals from their three games following a 5-3 win at Derby and 7-1 thumping of QPR last weekend.

"It is crucial to win football matches," added Lampard. "Scoring goals is great for the feeling in the game, like when we scored early against QPR and then we went on to score again - that feeling is great, but that won't always be the case."

Listen to the full interview with Frank Lampard and more on BBC Sounds

Oxford United will be hoping to bounce back from a humiliating 6-0 home defeat to Premier League side Brighton in the EFL Cup, with Gary Rowett's side also searching for their first league point of the season following three defeats so far.

Frank Lampard's Coventry City side come into the game with plenty of confidence after their 7-1 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers last weekend, despite being knocked out of the EFL Cup by Millwall in the week.

• Oxford United have won just four of their 13 EFL games against Coventry City (D1 L8), though three of those victories have come on home soil.

• Coventry City have won their past two league games against Oxford United, and will be looking to win three in succession in the EFL for the first time.

• Oxford have averaged just 35% of possession across their opening three Championship matches so far this season – the lowest share of any side in the competition.

• As well as scoring the most goals in the Championship so far this season (12), Coventry also top the charts for most shots (57), most shots on target (21) and most touches inside the opposition's penalty area (114). Across England's top four tiers this season, Coventry's Milan van Ewijk has provided the most assists amongst defenders (3), whilst he's now recorded five across his last five appearances for the Sky Blues, including last season's play-offs.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City captain Jake Bidwell says the reasons behind the team's first loss of the season are "easily preventable" and should be a relatively easy fix.

The Sky Blues 2-1 defeat by Millwall in the second round of the Carabao Cup this week was the first dent in their otherwise excellent start to the season, which has seen exhilarating wins over Derby County and Queens Park Rangers.

If there has been a weakness, it has been from set-pieces and both of Millwall's goals at The Den resulted from corners.

Failing to dealt sufficiently with long throw-ins and free-kicks have also led to the Sky Blues conceding this season.

"It's not the first time it's happened this season [conceding from a set-piece] so it's something to work on," Bidwell told BBC CWR. "But it's easily preventable from our point of view.

"Obviously you don't want to do it but it should be an easier fix than if a team's getting ripped apart every two minutes and you're thinking, 'I'm not really sure what to do here'.

"You can pinpoint it and we need to get better at it otherwise we'll lose more games than we should."

Defender Bidwell says improving their record in that area is not simply down to working on specialised drills in training - players needs the right attitude.

"It's starts with desire to do your job in the box, there is an understanding of different set-ups and different roles but we're all aware of it and its something that needs to stop pretty quickly," he added.

Coventry travel to Oxford United on Saturday in the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Lampard wants his Coventry City side to find their flow again immediately after suffering their first defeat of the season.

Free-scoring Coventry, who have netted 12 goals in their last two Championship games, were beaten 2-1 by Millwall in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.

Lampard, who made eight changes to his team for the second round tie, says the Sky Blues cannot allow the loss to linger.

"We've had a good start in the league and we need to carry that on. This can't break the rhythm - I've said it to the players. We have to get back to where we were before this game," the Coventry manager told BBC CWR.

"We made changes because we have to because we don't have a big, big squad. We're early in the season and we have to be careful at this stage with the players to be able to play three games in a week.

"Maybe that's some part of why the performance looked like it did. That's for us to digest a little bit.

"We need to improve on that front. If players come in they have to keep the level and we didn't quite do that.

"Yes, we can make the excuse of changing the team but the game has now gone and we have to move back on to the league."

On Saturday, third-placed Coventry travel to Oxford United who are still looking for their first point of the season.

20 August 2005. Coventry City midfielder Claus Jorgensen scores the first goal at the newly opened Coventry Building Society Arena to put his side 1-0 up against Queens Park Rangers.

He celebrates with a bouncy, loping skip towards the corner flag.

23 August 2025. Coventry City's Haji Wright and Viktor Torp each score a double in the 7-1 demolishing of Queens Park Rangers as the club celebrates ending the 20-year wait to call the CBS Arena home.

They celebrate by skipping toward the jubilant fans inside the arena in homage to Jorgensen.

It's a full-circle moment, external which encapsulates the relief felt by supporters when owner Doug King was finally able to get the deal over the line for Coventry City FC to own the CBS Arena.

Jorgensen, now 49, is pleased his skipping celebration is being utilised once again.

"The amount of stick I've got for 20 years for that celebration... I've always had faith in it," he told BBC CWR.

"The celebration was a nice touch, they showed they had some sense of humour. [It makes] you feel connected to the club."

Listen to the full interview with Claus Jorgensen and more on BBC Sounds.

Rob Gurney
BBC CWR commentator and presenter

It's a day a lot of Sky Blues fans thought would never come.

Fittingly though, the news that Coventry City's Coventry Building Society Arena belongs to them broke on Monday - the 20th anniversary of the stadium.

Doug King has brought the stadium and the football club under the same ownership and that should secure the future of each, for the benefit of existing fans and those in the years to come.

The dark days of ground-sharing at Northampton and Birmingham, and being beholden to the likes of Wasps Rugby, are finally consigned to history.

The city now has what the arena was built for in the first place - a stadium for The Sky Blues to call "home" at long, long last.

Nathan Albon
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

I don't think I've ever seen so many smiling faces at a football ground.

Even before the match on Saturday, Coventry fans were noticeably outgoing and positive on the news of buying their stadium.

I spoke to one, Rakesh, who said he'd woken up to 38 group chat messages about it and that 'Coventry are back'.

Well, the sky blue ribbon was well and truly cut with that kind of performance and result.

The challenge now will be sustaining that positive feeling and unbeaten momentum after an unusually fast start to the season.

Frank Lampard praised his Coventry City players after they hammered QPR 7-1 on a momentous day for the club.

The stunning victory came hours after City announced they had completed the purchase of their stadium, the Coventry Building Society Arena, describing it as a "pivotal moment" in their history.

"It's a great day. This club has a great history and tradition and been through so many things. To make this feel our home is really special," Sky Blues boss Lampard told BC CWR.

"I'm delighted for everybody. We have this officially as our home. Then the onus was on us to put in a performance and the boys certainly did that - from the first minute.

"It was a performance of quality, mentality and attitude. They were at it in every single way.

"We want to take the template of today. We won't always play with so many great things but we must always have the attitude and mentality we had today."