Coventry City

Coventry City midfielder Jamie Allen says the Sky Blues "tried to put their foot down" following a quick start in their 3-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.

Allen scored Coventry's second goal in the opening seven minutes after Brandon Thomas-Asante fired in the first just three minutes into the game at the CBS Arena.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto added a third, moments before James Abankwah was sent off for the Hornets.

The win gives the Sky Blues a three-point gap at the top of the table as second-place Middlesbrough could only draw at home to Wrexham.

"They had a few chances just before the third goal, Rushy [Carl Rushworth] made some unbelievable saves," he told BBC Radio CWR.

"They were good at the counter-attacks so we had to be very wary of that. We grafted to get the three points.

"We've started really well, all we want to do is keep this run going. Our focus is to take each game at a time."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told Sky Blues fans to enjoy the club's hot streak while it lasts with no guarantees the good times will continue to roll.

The Championship leaders won their sixth match on the bounce and extended an unbeaten run to 12 games in the league when beating Watford 3-1 at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, Lampard said: "Six wins, 12 unbeaten but don't get used to it like it is nothing. We can improve for sure but we need to continue.

"As easy as you go on these type of runs it can go on the reverse. We have to control it and keep working."

Lampard was delighted with the result against a Watford side who posed a threat throughout despite finding themselves reduced to 10 men before the break.

"It was a difficult game against good opposition with lots of pace, lots of transition threat and lots of quality. If you'd offered me that (3-1) this morning against Watford I would have taken it so I'm happy.

"Carl Rushworth made some great saves for us. That is what he is there for and it is great to see a continuation of his form. We did a lot of damage in the first half but they are a counter attacking team.

"We had to be a bit careful in how we played but we had to take the sting out of the game. We want to win games. If you get loose against good opposition they are dangerous."

Championship leaders Coventry head into this game as the EFL's only unbeaten side and with a one-point lead over Middlesbrough.

Watford collected their first win under returning boss Javi Gracia when beating West Brom 2-1 on Wednesday but, along with Ipswich, are the only side without an away win in the division.

• Coventry City have only lost one of their last 12 league games against Watford (W4 D7) and none of the previous seven encounters (W3 D4).

• Since a run of three successive wins between October 2007 and May 2010, Watford are winless on each of their past six league visits to Coventry (D4 L2).

• Coventry have won each of their previous five league games; only twice before (in August 1954 and September 1964) have they won six successive games in the Football League.

• Watford are without an away league win in their past 11 matches (D3 L8); they're the only ever-present Championship side without a league win on the road since March.

• Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante has either scored or assisted in each of his past five Championship games, registering as many goal involvements in this run as in his prior 15 matches in the competition (7 – 6 goals, 1 assist).

Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante says his side had to be "resilient" in their 2-1 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The 26-year-old scored both of the goals for the Sky Blues, pushing his tally up to eight for the season in just 11 games.

"We know that when we go 1-0 up it is not done - that is how we suffered last season - so we had to be resilient the whole way through," he told BBC Radio CWR.

"This result is testament to our spirit. This season and through the end of last season, we are learning how to get results from a variety of different games."

The Ghanaian international is enjoying his football under head coach Frank Lampard at the moment, scoring five goals in his last three outings for the Sky Blues.

"There are a lot of reasons why I have been playing better. Last season I was suffering with a few injuries and I was trying to play through that.

"It was my first season so I wanted to try and be out there as much as possible but when you're not 100% it is really frustrating.

"It is not to do with just me, the other players are making it really easy and I am so grateful to have these team-mates.

"I just have to keep going because anything can happen tomorrow."

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard says his side deserved more goals in their 2-1 away win against Portsmouth.

The Sky Blues extended their winning run to five games and maintained their record as the only team in the Championship yet to lose a match in last night's win.

"We probably should have had more than two goals with the way we were playing. We were looking so dangerous every time we attacked," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR.

"When you are winning games, changing the system can seem a strange thing to do but when you look at our squad in terms of attacking players, we have Haji Wright, who has been to America and back, Sakamoto and Mason-Clark - we need to look after their minutes at times."

The Coventry boss was full of praise for Brandon Thomas-Asante, who netted twice to make it five goals in three games for the Ghanaian international.

"It is all credit to Brandon because he works so hard and has got so much good energy about him.

"Even going back to the first day of pre-season, he was ready to go and wherever you play him, he has that work ethic and talent.

"He just needs to keep going because he has taken himself to a level now where people will talk about him because he is doing it so regularly."

"It wasn't the best performance we have seen this season, but we got the win and that is the most important thing."

BBC CWR's Lorna Bailey and Will Oelrich are joined by Sky Blues fans Sam and Moz to reflect on Coventry's 2-0 home win against Blackburn, as well as discussing what to expect in Tuesday night's Championship encounter with Portsmouth (19:45 BST).

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

No club has taken more points on the road than the 11 managed by Championship leaders Coventry City this season.

The Sky Blues are also one of only three teams unbeaten on their travels in the division.

Home side Portsmouth are struggling for goals with only Sheffield United (4) and Blackburn Rovers (7) having scored fewer than their seven.

• Portsmouth have won four of their past five home league games against Coventry City (D1) since a 3-0 reverse in April 2011.

• Coventry have won two of their past three league matches against Portsmouth (L1), this after only winning one of their previous seven prior (D2 L4).

• After their 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, Portsmouth could win back-to-back home league games without conceding for the first time since October 2023.

• Coventry have won both of their past two away league games by an aggregate score of 9-0. They could become the first side in English league history to win three successive away games in the second tier by 4+ goals.

• Coventry have won both of their past two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games, including one against Portsmouth in April (1-0). The Sky Blues last won three in a row in December 2022.

Coventry City were not worried about Middlesbrough overtaking them at the top of the Championship before their game with Blackburn, says forward Ephron Mason-Clark.

The Sky Blues were knocked off the summit for a few hours by Boro's win over Ipswich on Friday night before reassuming leadership of the division with their 2-0 victory against Rovers on Saturday.

"It's early in the season, we're not looking at the table really," Mason-Clark told BBC Radio CWR.

"We're not looking at those around us, we're just focusing on ourselves and making sure we're not only prepared for home games but away games as well."

Coventry head to Portsmouth on Tuesday night (19:45 BST) having scored nine goals in their past two away trips.

"Those stats we can't take for granted," added the forward. "We go there to stick to our own qualities and make sure we're fighting for each other and the fans that are travelling down there.

"It's an amazing ground with a lot of history but we're all confident and looking forward to a tough test again."

Ben Mundy
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It took the best part of an hour before Frank Lampard's Coventry burned off the international break blues on Saturday.

In fact, the first half against Blackburn Rovers was close. Very close. One of the Rovers' staff joked with me over a half-time coffee that "Coventry were holding on".

It wasn't quite that. But the hosts took a while to get going.

And yet, once Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante had fired them into a 2-0 lead, there was no letting up. No shutting up shop. No sitting back and soaking up.

It was delightful to watch – as Coventry continued to push and probe. And a clear indication as to how the Sky Blues have managed to bag 14 goals in their past four games.

That tactic, on top of five consecutive clean sheets, means the rest of the Championship should have real Coventry concerns.

Nice one, Frank.

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard says his players "needed recovery", but should avoid becoming complacent.

Lampard lost Haji Wright (USA), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Ghana), Joel Latibeaudiere (Jamaica) and Jay Dasilva (Wales), as they all went off to join their respective international teams.

"We used the time well and the players needed recovery first and foremost," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR. "It has given us a chance to get the right level of physical work.

"It is is not always easy to work overly tactical when you are missing some important players, we are not the biggest squad.

"But it gives us the chance to bring up some young players and have a look at those who have added positively to the feeling of the group."

The Sky Blues are the only team in the Championship yet to lose this season. Their last game before the break saw them complete a 5-0 thumping over Sheffield Wednesday.

Coventry welcome Blackburn to the CBS Arena on Saturday (15:00 BST), where they will be looking to extended their unbeaten streak.

"The unbeaten record is nice, but I'm not so concerned about that, because we can lose a game in this league," Lampard added.

"But performance wise and feeling wise the way the players are running for each other on the pitch and how they are performing on the pitch has been great - but I have to be the first one to understand the minute those levels drop then everything changes.

"There were a few glimpses at Sheffield Wednesday, even in the 5-0 where we dropped a little bit, players have seen that back since and we have to make sure we guard against any complacency."

Listen to Lampard's full interview and more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds.

Ellis Simms hopes he can continue to make an impact for Coventry - whether it is as a substitute or in the starting XI.

The 24-year-old forward has come off the bench in seven of City's opening nine Championship games and netted in his past two appearances in big wins at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.

Simms started 19 of the Sky Blues' final 22 games last season and came off the bench in the other three.

But, after six goals in 44 Championship appearances last season, he has had to settle for an 'impact sub' role under Frank Lampard this season.

He told BBC CWR: "I want to score goals, do well and keep improving. You have to keep believing in yourself and eventually it will come.

"If I keep making the runs, working hard, practising, you're going to score and from there it's like a snowball, you get confidence and you score again - I believe in my ability.

"The one-to-ones with Frank Lampard and the training staff are very helpful. Especially learning from the best. I have to learn from them and keep listening to the advice and take it on board."

Simms said he has the "same mentality" whether he is coming off the bench or starting, adding: "You have to be ready at all times, work hard, and when you're given an opportunity you want to grasp it with both hands and do well for yourself and the team.

"Every player wants to start (but) when you come on you want to make an impact and influence the game.

"I feel like I am in a decent place and in the last two games I have managed to come on and score. I want to keep that coming.

"There's healthy competition in the team, we're all pushing each other and that's maybe a factor in why we have started so well this season."

Click here to listen to the full interview via BBC Sounds.

"Frank's a very engaging individual - he wears his footballing greatness lightly.

"We see someone who comes in with this great work effort, this humility, this desire. I guess for Frank, he's got a slight point to prove himself."

World Soccer's Henry Winter joins BBC Radio CWR to discuss Frank Lampard's influence on Coventry City.

Listen to the full analysis and more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds.

Blackburn Rovers have the unenviable task of visiting top dogs Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 BST) as they look for space away from the bottom three.

Rovers are currently just one point above the relegation spots and in a spot of poor form, finding themselves winless in three league matches (D1 L2).

Coventry, on the other hand, are flying. The side are so in form, in fact, that their goal difference of 20 is higher than any other Championship team's 'goals for' tally so far this season.

But the Sky Blues are still just one point above second placed Middlesbrough (as of time of writing, at least!) and will want to make sure they retain their leading position.

• Coventry City haven't lost any of their last nine league games against Blackburn Rovers (W4 D5), keeping a clean sheet in each of their last four matches against them.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost each of their last three league trips to Coventry City, with their last away win in the league against the Sky Blues coming in October 2020 (4-0).

• Coventry have won each of their last three league games by an average score of 12-0, while they've kept a clean sheet in their last four league games; they last did so in five successive games in October 2001 in the second tier under Ronald Nilsson.

• Since Valerien Ismael's first Championship game in charge of Blackburn Rovers at the start of March, only two sides have lost more Championship league matches than Rovers (10).

• Coventry have already scored 27 goals in their opening nine league games this season; the last second tier side to score as many as 30 in their first 10 league games of a season was Bolton Wanderers in 1964-65 (31). Indeed, the most the Sky Blues have scored in their first 10 Football League games of a season is 28 in the Division Three South in 1935-36.

Coventry City chairman Doug King has said he thinks he is likely "too hands on" when it comes to his involvement with the Championship club.

King secured full ownership of the Sky Blues after buying out previous owners Sisu in January 2023.

"I'm very hands on, it's a big deal," King told BBC Radio 4.

"It's really important for the community, it's obviously a huge financial undertaking as well. It matters a lot. It changes everybody's feeling about the area if we get something right - and obviously if we get it wrong.

"I'm very aware of that and that's why I take a lot interest in it and am probably way too hands on, but that's how I'm going to be."

The atmosphere around the club has been particularly positive of late; Frank Lampard's side are a point clear at the top of the table and possess a goal difference (+20) that is higher than any other Championship team's 'goals for' tally.

"We've had a really good start so that's got everybody dreaming," King added.

"We haven't had a good start for a while so it's good to have one. We've just got to keep on doing what we are doing."

Listen to the full interview with King and more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds.

Sky Blues midfielder Jack Rudoni sat down with BBC Radio 4's Mike Williams to reflect on Frank Lampard's influence in his 11 months at Coventry and his ambition to take the club to the Premier League.

The Sky Blues sit top of the Championship pile after nine games and boast the division's only remaining unbeaten record.

"We're all enjoying it, we're free-flowing and expressing ourselves," Rudoni said.

"We all respect him [Lampard] as a player and as a person. I have a great relationship with him and it's brought the best out of me and a lot of players.

"There's no one better for me to learn off than a goalscoring midfielder. He works with me one-to-one and I love training and playing under him.

"We need to stay level-headed, take it game-by-game. We're in a great position, we just want to stay unbeaten and pick up three points where we can.

"Everything is coming together really nicely. It's an amazing city for football. I love playing for this club. We want to create our own history and getting back to the Premier League is the main aim for us."

Click here to listen to the full interview via BBC Sounds.

"It's a weird position to be in where everyone's talking about you. It's kind of uncomfortable in a way.

"Eyes are more on us because of Frank Lampard, because he's doing such a brilliant job and because the football we're playing is the best I can remember.

"It's a nice feeling but a surreal one, it happens to other clubs, not us."

BBC CWR's Lorna Bailey is joined by Sky Blues fans Ben and Stuart to discuss the amount of attention on the table-topping Sky Blues during the international break.

Hear too from chairman Doug King, manager Frank Lampard and midfielder Jack Rudoni and have a crack at Name That Game.

Click here to listen to the full episode of the Sky Blues Fancast via BBC Sounds.

"The fans should and always will respect Mark Robins' legacy, but we're now doing our own thing.

"The players are a joy to work with. My relationship with Doug King is very good, we have a close relationship, he has a great passion for the club.

"I'm a more relaxed manager now than when I started, I have learned a lot. I'm more level-headed and I understand the job as well as I ever have."

As the one-year anniversary of his appointment at Coventry City as successor to Mark Robins approaches next month, Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard sat down with BBC Radio 4's Mike Williams to reflect on his time at the club, his relationship with the fans and his growth as a manager.

Click here to listen to the full interview via BBC Sounds.

"You can feel the energy around the city and at the CBS - definitely a good time to be a Cov fan."

Join BBC presenter Mike Williams as he takes a walk around Coventry to speak with Sky Blues fans, owner Doug King, boss Frank Lampard and midfielder Jack Rudoni about the good vibes floating around the club after a superb start to the season.

Listen to all the interviews and more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds.