Coventry City

Coventry welcome Hull City on Saturday as two new head coaches face off in an important clash in the bottom half of the Championship.

Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard tasted defeat for the first time in a 2-0 loss at West Brom on Wednesday night, while the Tigers drew 1-1 with Watford in Ruben Selles' first game in charge.

Hull are rooted to the foot of the table but are just one point from safety and Coventry are four points above the drop zone.

• Coventry City have failed to win any of their past five league games against Hull City (D2 L3), with those matches seeing 16 goals scored between the two sides combined.

• Hull City have won on four of their past five league trips to Coventry (D1), one more win than in their prior 12 such visits (D4 L5).

• Coventry have conceded two goals in each of their past five home league games (W1 D2 L2), only in November 1967 (6) have the Sky Blues conceded 2+ goals at home in a longer run of league matches.

• Hull are winless in their past five away league games (D1 L4), conceding 10 goals during that run (2 per game).

• Coventry have conceded 32 home league goals in 2024, their most since 2015 (also 32), last conceding more in 2013 (38). Their average goals conceded per game on home soil in 2024 is their worst (1.68) since their first ever year in the English Football League in 1919 (1.73 per game).

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard says he's already got to know a lot about his new team in the short space of time he has been in charge.

Wednesday night's 2-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion was the Sky Blues' first defeat since the former England international was appointed at the end of last month.

Lampard had previously overseen a draw with Cardiff City and a win at Millwall.

"We've learned a lot in a really short time and it's normal that a night like this (against West Brom) can come along especially in this Championship," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"I like the players, they want to do better, they want to do well for this club."

Coventry are four points clear of the Championship's relegation zone and face three games against struggling Hull City, Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle in the next fortnight.

"The finer details and the clinical nature at both ends of the pitch are important for us but the only way I know is to keep working towards that," Lampard said.

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Sky Blues defender Joel Latibeaudiere says he and City will learn from the errors which led to their downfall at West Brom.

Coventry lost 2-0 at The Hawthorns to suffer a first defeat under new boss Frank Lampard.

The centre-back told BBC CWR: "It was a tough game. I don't think the scoreline reflects how the game was – West Brom took their chances and we didn't take ours.

"We can take the positives from the game and look to learn but it doesn't matter that we created the chances, we didn't commit and go and take them. We need to look at that and learn from it.

"Between the boxes we are unreal, but games are won and lost in our box and their box. At the moment we aren't winning that battle."

He also revealed he had taken responsibility for the Baggies' second goal, adding: "(Karlan) Grant shifts past me too easily. I'll learn from that and won't let it happen again."

Coventry return to the CBS Arena to host bottom side Hull City on Saturday and Latibeaudiere said it was a perfect chance to bounce back from the disappointment of Wednesday.

"We have a game in two days and that's the beautiful thing," he said. "A chance to correct it, to go and put it right.

"We talk about it all the time, we hate letting the fans down, we just want to get the CBS rocking on Saturday.

"We need to go on a run, start collecting some points and start showing some consistency, because that's what takes you up this league."

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If you remember doing the football pools and having to select games you think would end in a draw then West Bromwich Albion would be first on your list.

The Baggies are unbeaten in their past 11 Championship games but 10 of those have been drawn.

Coventry City are looking to go three league games unbeaten for only the second time this season.

• West Brom have won each of their past three league games against Coventry City and have lost just one of their past eight matches overall (W5 D2).

• Coventry City have won just one of their past 12 away league games against West Brom (D3 L8), conceding more than five goals in two different matches during that time.

• West Brom have both failed to win (D3 L1) and failed to score in each of their past four midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) since a 2-0 win over Rotherham United in April earlier this year.

• Coventry City manager Frank Lampard is unbeaten in three league meetings with West Brom (W2 D1), winning both of those which have come in the Championship (4-1 away and 3-1 at home in the 2018-19 campaign, in charge of Derby County).

• Coventry have lost both of their past two league games against fellow sides from the West Midlands, and could lose three such matches in succession for the first time since a run of four defeats in November 2007.

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New Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is very keen not to get too excited about his encouraging unbeaten start with the Sky Blues as he prepares for a second tough away game in five days.

Following on from Saturday's 1-0 win at Millwall, City take on a West Bromwich Albion side who are perhaps in a false place in eighth in the table.

Lampard warned: "We need to not get too far ahead of ourselves because it's one win and there's a lot of work to do.

"We'll prep for the game on Wednesday. That's the rigours of the Championship for you, so we'll have to deal with it."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder described Albion as the toughest opposition his side have faced this season following Sunday's 2-2 draw.

But, having been top in September before embarking on a run of just one win in 13 games, of which a remarkable 10 have been draws, the Baggies' main problem is scoring goals - just six in nine home games.

Albion were also battling for promotion when Lampard made his only previous visit there as a Championship manager with Derby County in October 2018.

It was only his 14th league game in management - and his largely young Rams side had only previously won five of them. But, although admittedly he had talent of the calibre of Tom Huddlestone, Fikayo Tomori, Jayden Bogle, Mason Mount, David Nugent, Tom Lawrence and Harry Wilson at his disposal, it was a night when Lampard's Derby clicked into gear.

They were two up inside 15 minutes and then ran rings round Darren Moore's Baggies before ultimately running out 4-1 winners.

On a ground where City have managed just one point and one goal (Haji Wright's penalty last season) and have lost on three of their past four visits, they have not won at The Hawthorns since Leon Best and Michael Mifsud each netted twice in a 4-2 victory in December 2007.

They would love another four goals away from home on Wednesday night. But on a ground where there have so far this season been just 11 scored by either team (and eight of those have come in two 2-2 draws in successive home games), it would seem rather unlikely.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City's new head coach Frank Lampard has indicated that he is keen to take a proper look at his whole squad as he eases his way into the job.

After making three changes to the Sky Blues side for his first game in charge, the 2-2 home draw with Cardiff City, bringing in Jack Rudoni, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark, he made four more alterations to the starting line up for Saturday's 1-0 win at Millwall, recalling Jake Bidwell, Joel Latibeaudiere, Victor Torp and Ellis Simms.

"I haven't seen lots of the players," Lampard told BBC CWR. "The changes were not for people playing terribly. It's just that we need to look at players. We've got some good options in different positions.

"So that's more me looking at a week with three games to say 'OK, show us what you've got lads' and for us to see as a coaching staff what we've got.

"I was really pleased with the impact of the subs. That's important in this league. We've got a good squad, we've got to use it sometimes."

Having picked up four points out of six from his first two games in charge, now comes Lampard's biggest test yet - West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night.

The Baggies may not have won at home since 21 September, but their form especially early on in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Championship leaders Sheffield United suggested that Carlos Corberan's side are due to hit their straps.

Blades manager Chris Wilder, whose side also drew 2-2 (with 10 men) against Coventry at the CBS Arena a fortnight earlier, said Albion are the toughest side they have so far played and that the draw was "arguably our best result of the season".

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Coventry City left-back Jake Bidwell was proud of his team-mates and the Sky Blues fans for getting the job done in such difficult circumstances as they won 1-0 at Millwall.

In horrible weather, as Storm Darragh pounded away at The Den, at one of the most notoriously difficult away grounds in the country, Ephron Mason-Clark's 63rd-minute winner earned City their first victory under new boss Frank Lampard.

"We knew with the way conditions were all around the country, it wasn't going to be pretty," Bidwell told BBC CWR. "The ball was moving around all over the place. You could see that with the lads trying to take corners.

"But we still played some decent stuff at times and we battled when we needed to. Some good blocks and headers late on."

On his first start since 5 October following knee trouble, Bidwell linked up well down the left with scorer Mason-Clark, who is another to have felt the galvanising effect of Lampard's appointment, having got off the mark for the club in last weekend's 2-2 home draw with Cardiff City.

"He can go left, he can go right, roll people, he's strong, quick and now he has back-to-back goals - I'm delighted for him as he's a great lad," said Bidwell.

"Lads who hadn't had much of a chance now have fresh impetus, making good competition for places. I'm pleased to be back and feeling good. My knee is great. It was my first injury for six or seven years. I hope it takes that long before I get another one.

"And I don't know how many times I've said it in my three years here, but those fans of ours are unbelievable. We're sold out everywhere. I'm just glad we could send them back with three points. And it would be great if we could do the same for them against West Brom on Wednesday night.

"One good performance a week won't get you very far in this division. We need another performance and another win."

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Frank Lampard says he is pleased with the 'character' and 'personality' of his Coventry City side after their first win under his leadership.

Ephron Mason-Clark's second-half goal secured the Sky Blues a 1-0 win at Millwall to end a five-game winless run.

The former England and Chelsea midfielder took over at Coventry last month after long-serving boss Mark Robins was sacked.

"The first half was a bit slow from us, it's not easy to come here and the conditions were obviously very difficult," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"But there were things we could have done which we didn't do which made it difficult in the first half, it was a bit passive from us.

"But we got some messages across at half time and I'm really, really proud of them - we played quicker, created chances and probably should have been two up before that last five to 10 minutes when we had to suffer a bit.

"But really pleased with the character, really pleased with the personality of the team and it's a nice win.

"It's a small step forward because there's a lot to do, but we're very happy."

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Until recently, Millwall had developed a consistent habit of winning matches 1-0 - but it looks as though 1-1 has now taken over as the Londoners' favourite scoreline in recent weeks.

The Lions have drawn three games in a row with a goal apiece, against Stoke, Sunderland and Oxford, within a nine-match undefeated run that has taken them to 10th in the table, five points shy of the play-offs.

Visitors Coventry have also got into a familiar pattern of late, with three of their last four games ending 2-2 - the most recent of those coming at home to Cardiff last weekend in Frank Lampard's first fixture as Sky Blues boss.

● Millwall have lost each of their last three league games against Coventry City and will be looking to avoid losing four in succession in the Football League for the first time.

● Coventry City have lost just one of their last six away league games against Millwall (W3 D2), scoring 13 goals in total during that time.

● Since a 1-0 defeat at Cardiff at the start of October, Millwall are unbeaten in their last nine league games (W4 D5); they last went 10+ games unbeaten in the Football League between January and April 2018 (17).

● Coventry have conceded two goals in each of their last five league games (D3 L2); the Sky Blues last endured a longer league run of conceding 2+ goals in November 2014 (7).

● Four of Millwall's last five Championship goals have come from set pieces (2x free kick, 1x corner, 1x throw). Excluding penalties only Derby County (11) have more set-piece goals in the Championship this season than Millwall's eight.

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Image source, Clive Eakin

Here's some more from Frank Lampard's press conference this morning.

Firstly on injured striker Haji Wright who has been out since suffering an ankle injury on 9 November.

"He's progressing pretty well. I haven't really got a time frame for you at the minute," Lampard said.

"It's one of the disappointments of coming in, not having him ready right now but it's a busy period and we're hoping he's back soon."

The 46-year-old also spoke about assistant boss Joe Edwards' return to Millwall on Saturday.

Edwards was sacked by the Lions in February after just under four months in charge.

"He is looking forward to it but you have to take emotions out of these things because we've all been there," Lampard added.

"I've gone back to previous clubs and it brings a different feeling for sure. We're all human to that but we'll just approach the game and try to win the game. We'll try to understand Millwall's strengths and possible weaknesses.

"We're very professional about it. We're here to try and help this club and we know we're in a moment of wanting to improve so that's our main focus."

Image source, Coventry City FC

Coventry boss Frank Lampard has dismissed any perception that his young squad lacks leadership.

Experienced players including Kyle McFadzean, Liam Kelly and Matty Godden have all left the club over the past 12 months.

"I think that's an easy conclusion, I think leadership as a sense has changed over the years," Lampard said.

"It's always easy to hark back 15 years and go, 'oh there were leaders everywhere' it's not always the case.

"The young men here have to make themselves leaders too. We're young but we're not babies. Players have to take responsibility.

"That's something to assess I guess going forward but I should be a leader, Ben Sheaf will be a leader so will Jake Bidwell but also so will the younger players in the team. They have to grow into that."

The Sky Blues visit Millwall on Saturday (15:00 GMT kick-off)

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Coventry City's new boss Frank Lampard has been very clear with his instructions in his first few days in charge, according to midfielder Ephron Mason-Clark.

Lampard's appointment was confirmed last Thursday, just two days before his first game in charge, which ended in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City as Mason-Clark scored his first goal for the club since signing from Peterborough United.

Lampard has inherited a squad constructed by Mark Robins and had just two training sessions at Ryton to get his initial ideas across as to how they should approach the visit of the Bluebirds.

The new manager made two changes to the Coventry team from their 2-0 loss at Burnley but, more significantly, switched from a back three to a four-man defence.

"In the short space of time we've taken on a lot of tactics and ways of playing and it's been very clear and quite simple really," Mason-Clark told BBC CWR.

"With how competitive our squad is, having a person like that in the building is only going to amplify that and make every single training session and matchday competitive."

Lampard now has the relative luxury of a full week with the players ahead of Saturday's trip to Millwall followed by next Wednesday's game at West Bromwich Albion, with Coventry three points clear of the Championship's relegation zone.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Image source, Rex Features

New Coventry City boss Frank Lampard was pleased with certain aspects of his side's performance in his first game in charge.

But he had particular praise for his two goalscorers in the Sky Blues' 2-2 home draw with Cardiff City.

Winger Ephron Mason-Clark took his chance well to earn Coventry their first equaliser as they twice came from behind, but Lampard was equally full of praise for Victor Torp for the composure he showed to level from the penalty spot late on.

"I took penalties myself, so I understand what it can be like - and the time it takes," he said.

"There's always quite a lot of kerfuffle and the penalty spot being roughed up. It's not easy to keep calm and he took it brilliantly."

"There was some good, some not so good in our performance, but it was only to be expected two days in, with where we are in the league - and we want to get better," Lampard told BBC CWR.

One key decision Lampard made was to give Ephron-Clark only his fourth league start for the Sky Blues - and his first in almost two months, having so far figured mostly from the bench.

"It's not easy settling into a division above, so he does need time but he also needs to earn the right to play minutes regularly, so I'm pleased with him," he added.

"He understands more now of what we want from him in running in behind. He's got a lot of raw talent - and we want to get to work with it really quickly."

Image source, Rex Features

Former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic believes owner Doug King's appointment of Frank Lampard as the club's new head coach is a sign of their ambition.

The former Chelsea and England midfielder has replaced Mark Robins who was sacked earlier this month.

"It's quite an ambitious appointment and I think there'll be substantial funds available to strengthen the squad," Ogrizovic told BBC CWR.

"For Doug King's credibility, he wants to get somewhere near the Premier League, and he sees Frank Lampard as part of that."

Lampard inherits a team currently 17th in the Championship, two points above the relegation zone, and with many fans doubting his ability, but Ogrizovic believes he should be given time to succeed.

"People have to respect the job he has done in football as a player and a manager as well.

"He did really well at Derby in his first job. His first stint at Chelsea was pretty decent, but his Everton experience has tarnished him a bit and the few games he had back at Chelsea."

Frank Lampard's first game in charge is Coventry's home meeting with Cardiff on Saturday, and Ogrizovic is confident he can communicate his ideas to the players.

"We've got a good, bright young manager who I'm impressed with when I hear him summarising on the TV. He's astute, knows the modern game, and will link well with the players.

"He's got a good way of being able to explain things and I'm surprised that hasn't translated into better results, but he hasn't been a disaster. He's had some success, but people tend to look at Everton and the last six or seven games at Chelsea, which is a bit unfair."