Coventry City

Coventry boss Frank Lampard has been speaking to BBC CWR ahead of the Sky Blues' trip to his former club, Derby County, on Saturday [12:30 BST].

City began the season with a goalless draw against Hull City at the CBS Arena last Saturday but Lampard is hopeful time on the training ground will help them sharpen up in front of goal.

Here are some of the things he had to say:

• "We deserved to win the game [against Hull], we have to look at how we can improve."

• Practice in front of goal - "It's early in the season. Only training and practice and becoming ultra sharp will give you the edge at the end of the pitch".

• "If we can help the squad in terms of balance before the end of transfer window absolutely we'll look at it."

• Ben Sheaf could be back to face Oxford United on 30 August.

• "I enjoyed my time at Derby, it's a big club, we just fell short [of promotion] in the end."

• "John Eustace did a really good job to keep Derby in the league last season."

• "We need to remember the feeling of the [2-0 defeat at Pride Park in March] and work against that.

• "Derby are a dangerous team who will want to react to [opening defeat at Stoke] in front of their own fans."

Coventry City travel to Derby County on Saturday (15:00 BST) with both sides looking for a first win of the league season.

Since joining the Rams in February, manager John Eustace guided the side to a 19th-placed finish which ensured their survival, while Sky Blues' boss Frank Lampard will be hoping to finish inside that top six again following last season's disappointment.

• Derby are unbeaten across their past four league games against Coventry (W2 D2), completing a league double over them last season. The Rams haven't won three in succession since April 2010.

• Coventry have won just one of their past 21 away league games against Derby (D9 L11); a 3-1 victory in October 2003.

• Derby have won two of their past three opening home games of a league season (L1), as many victories as across their prior 12 such matches combined (D6 L4).

• Coventry haven't won their opening away game in any of the past seven league campaigns (D3 L4) since winning 2-0 at Grimsby Town in League Two back in 2017-18.

• Last weekend, Derby's Ebou Adams made more tackles than any other player (8) – the last player to record more in a second tier match for the Rams was Graeme Shinnie vs Bournemouth in October 2020 (9).

Coventry City forward Kai Andrews made his full debut in the club's 1-0 victory over Luton Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and is hoping it will kick-start more regular appearances in the first team.

The Wales Under-21 international had previously only played three minutes for the Sky Blues during the 2023-24 season before leaving for Motherwell on loan in January, where he made eight Scottish Premiership appearances.

"It was a really good opportunity to showcase myself on the pitch," Andrews told BBC Radio CWR.

"The focus now is take it back into training on Thursday and hit the ground running again. Try to get as many minutes and starts and appearances as I can this season."

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

Wrexham have registered interest in Manchester City defender Callum Doyle but face competition from Coventry City, Leicester City and Norwich City for the 21-year-old Englishman. (Football League World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Hull are confident of keeping defender Charlie Hughes at the MKM Stadium.

The Tigers have rejected two bids from Championship rivals Coventry, the last being £7m, for the 21-year-old.

Hull sold Jacob Greaves to Ipswich for £17m last summer and it is expected any offer for Hughes would need to eclipse that to even be considered.

But the Tigers are also under a transfer embargo and unable to sign players for a fee, meaning they would not be able to reinvest the money for a replacement, leaving them determined to keep Hughes.

He joined Hull from Wigan last summer as a replacement for Greaves - winning the club's Young Player of the Year award - and has made 28 appearances, including Saturday's opening 0-0 draw at Coventry.

"Because of a lot of the hype, it was a bit of an anti-climax... you're not going to keep fans on your side playing like that every week."

BBC CWR's Will Oelrich is joined by Sky Blues fans Sam and Anthony to reflect on Coventry City's opening game against Hull City - the good and the bad - as well as what to expect in Tuesday night's Carabao Cup encounter with Luton Town (19:45 BST).

Listen to the full episode of Sky Blues Fancast and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard says his team were lacking that 'little extra' in attack in the goalless draw with Hull City.

It meant the Sky Blues were unable to turn one point into three as they failed to win their season opener for the fourth successive year.

But for Lampard, the goal was all that was lacking in a solid performance at the CBS Arena.

"I'm disappointed not to win the game," he told BBC CWR.

"I'm happy with a clean sheet, I thought we were the better team and deserved it, we had a lot of control of the game and played in their half a lot.

"Maybe the first game there was a lack of 5% at the top end of the pitch.

"We looked like us, we played like us but we didn't have that little extra. That's probably the difference as otherwise we probably win that game."

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard said that his side "has to move on" from their play-off anguish and "start again" ahead of their opening game of the season against Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Lampard's side lost in extra time against Sunderland in last season's play-off semi-final but he told BBC Radio CWR that his players have to treat this season as completely different.

"I'm happy to be back, we start again off the back of what was a really positive season for us, with a disappointing ending," the former England international said.

"I always like the challenge of a new season, you must try to improve in every sense because everyone else around you is trying to do the same."

This is Lampard's first pre-season at the club following his appointment in November 2024 and his first opportunity to have a summer working with players.

"I know the squad now, I've worked with them for quite a few months. You are always learning as a coach, always growing and it is important to give players the opportunity to surprise you and train well because it is like a fresh start when you go again," he said.

The 47-year-old guided Coventry to their second play-off appearance in three seasons but when asked about if the top six was the target again this campaign, he said: "No, I haven't set targets.

"I think they are pretty pointless at this stage. We have an awareness of what the opening section of the season looks like but that is where our focus is."

Click here to listen to the full pre-match interview on BBC Sounds.

"The amount of new managers coming into the league this year, I have never seen anything like it".

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by special guests Tommy Smith and Alex Bruce to preview the 2025-26 Championship season.

They discuss a range of topics including assessing chances of sides coming down from the Premier League, who the contenders might be for the top six and take a deep dive of each of the sides promoted from League One.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

After falling at the semi-final stage of the Championship Play-offs in May, Coventry begin their latest quest for promotion to the Premier League with the visit of Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Frank Lampard begins his first full season in charge aiming to steer the Sky Blues to a fast start, something which evaded his predecessor Mark Robins in recent seasons.

Having avoided relegation on the final day of last season, a new era begins for Hull City with Sergej Jakirovic taking charge of the Tigers for the first time after replacing Blades-bound Ruben Selles at the helm in June.

• Coventry City have won just one of their last seven league games against Hull City (D3 L3), failing to keep a clean sheet across that time.

• Hull City have won four of their last six away league games against Coventry City (D1 L1), winning three of those without conceding in the process.

• This is the second time that Coventry and Hull have met on the opening day of a league campaign, with the previous fixture back in August 1966 in the second tier seeing the Sky Blues win 1-0 on home soil.

• Hull have won two of their last three away games that have fallen on matchday one of an EFL campaign, though did lose their last 2-1 vs Norwich City in August 2023.

• Last season in the Championship, only Josh Brownhill (24) and Finn Azaz (23) recorded more goal contributions among midfielders than Coventry's Jack Rudoni (22 – 10 goals, 12 assists). Two of those came against Hull (one goal, one assist).

The countdown is on to the start of Coventry City's Championship campaign and it's expected to be a packed out CBS Arena for the opening fixture as the Sky Blues take on Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

After his first pre-season working with the club, head coach Frank Lampard will be looking for the side to hit the ground running after disappointing starts by the team in recent seasons.

The BBC CWR sports team are also all about getting off to a good start with changes to the on-air matchday line-up.

Lifelong City Fan Rob Gurney moves into the matchday commentary role, taking over from Clive Eakin, who ended his 24 year run of Sky Blues commentaries at the end of last season.

Rob's no stranger to commentating on his team, having guided fans through the Premier League years in the 1990s.

Former Coventry City goalkeeper, Steve Ogrizovic, remains a safe pair of hands in the summariser's position alongside Rob.

Joining the starting line-up this season, after several appearances from the bench, is Lorna Bailey, who will host the build-up and post-match phone-in.

Southampton have failed in an approach for Coventry's 24-year-old midfielder Jack Rudoni, but might come back with another offer. (The Sun, external)

The Sky Blues want £15m for their Dutch right-back Milan van Ewijk. Wolves and Wolfsburg are among the clubs keen on signing the 24-year-old. (Coventry Telegraph), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

"Just listening to the manager Frank Lampard, he seems quite happy with where the squad are.

"We all want to get off to a great start but historically we know how bad our starts have been in recent years - it's not the end of the world if that happens.

"I look at the fixtures and it's a nice steady start so fingers crossed it'll be good for us in August."

Former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic joined host Lorna Bailey and the team for BBC CWR's Coventry City Fans' Forum ahead of the new Championship season.

The Sky Blues kick-off the campaign at home to Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Listen to the full Sky Blues Fancast Live and more on BBC Sounds.

Coventry City are among those interested in Luton Town midfielder Lamine Fanne but the Hatters are not looking to part with the Spanish 21-year-old this summer. (Rudy Galetti), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green Rovers have signed forward Aidan Dausch from Coventry City on a season-long loan.

The 19-year-old USA youth international has made two senior appearances off the bench for the Sky blues.

Dausch played nine National League South matches and scored two goal on loan for St Albans City as the Hertfordshire club were relegated in 21st place.

He follows fellow Coventry loanee Isaac Moore to the New Lawn Stadium for the 2025-26 season.

"Aidan is an exciting talent that we're delighted to work with here at Forest Green," Rovers manager Robbie Savage said.

"We're thankful to Frank Lampard and Coventry City for allowing us to bring Aidan and Isaac to the football club. We're excited to see them both develop and help us in our quest for promotion."

Rovers begin the National League season away at Solihull Moors on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is happy with the competition he has among his strikers after a 2-2 draw with St Pauli on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly.

Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms were on target as the Sky Blues completed their warm-up programme before the Championship opener at home to Hull City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

"It's nice to have strikers scoring goals - we've been a bit short of that in pre-season," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"But that's the hardest part of football, the sharpness and ability to finish so we can be happy with that.

"We've got competition up there and we need the players to perform but I'm well aware that strikers who are scoring and in confident runs can score more. It's a good feeling for them."

Haji Wright finished last season as Coventry's top scorer with 12 goals and was able to play 15 minutes against the German Bundesliga side as he continues his return from an Achilles injury.

"Haji's a big player for us and he came on having progressed very well with his injury - he's really keen and very positive and we're pleased to get him some minutes," Lampard added.

"He has some work to do to bridge the gap but it puts us in good stead having players of the calibre of Haji playing in that central area," added Lampard.