Coventry City have submitted a third bid for Swansea City captain Matt Grimes, 29, who is valued at around £4m by the Welsh club. (WalesOnline), external
Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Read Wednesday's gossip column here.
Jake Bidwell speaks to BBC CWR following Coventry's win against Watford
Coventry City defender Jake Bidwell said the team spirit is improving after a "great couple of weeks" with three wins on the bounce in the Championship.
The Sky Blues beat Watford 2-1 at the weekend to follow on from league victories over Blackburn and Bristol City, as well as progressing from the FA Cup third round against Sheffield Wednesday.
"Everyone is really pleased," Bidwell told BBC CWR.
"That spirit you get, there's nothing like winning games to produce that really. There's nothing like coming through those last few minutes when you're grinding it out together.
"These things are massive to help build momentum."
Bidwell, who signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with Coventry last week, said he is "enjoying" a slightly different role of being deployed at left wing-back under Frank Lampard.
"As I've said before, I love playing whether it's wing-back, left-back, centre-back," the 31-year-old added.
"Wherever it is, I'm just happy to be out there contributing with the lads and when you're winning games, it's even better."
Listen to Jake Bidwell's interview on BBC Sounds
Lampard post Watford victory
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard called Victor Torp the "man of the day" after the midfielder scored both his side's goals in their 2-1 victory against Watford.
The Dane tapped in Jack Rudoni's low cross in the 32nd minute lead to give the hosts the lead before accurately lofting in a free-kick into the top-left corner with 15 minutes remaining.
"I told him he'd score today, I just had a feeling," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR.
"He's playing so well and he's technically so good. His all round game is so good at the minute, on and off the ball.
"He's been a pleasure to work with in terms of how he trains, his low maintenance, and I think everyone in the ground when that free kick came, and it was closer, expected it to go in."
Prior to today, Torp had only managed two goals and two assists since moving to the Midlands a year ago but the 25-year-old reminded the Sky Blues faithful that he has the quality to give plenty more in a Coventry shirt.
"He's the man of the day, without a doubt and deservedly so," added former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard.
Torp's contribution means Coventry move into the top half of the Championship table on 38 points after 29 games, with Lampard's side having won the last three consecutive matches.
Rob Gurney
Sports editor, BBC CWR
Image source, Rex FeaturesFrank Lampard has won five of his 12 games in charge of Coventry City
We need to move on as a fanbase from Mark Robins - there, I've said it.
That's not in any way to diminish his achievements; I know he brought the club back from the brink, and that should always be remembered, and hopefully will be at future Legends Days, but he works for Stoke City now.
Sniping about whether he'd have achieved the same results as Frank Lampard is counter-productive and pointless.
The facts are, defensively, the team has improved under Lampard.
Twelve goals conceded in 11 Championship matches is a definite upgrade on 19 in 14 under Robins.
Lampard has talked about defensive solidity, and keeping more clean sheets was the "main focus" when he took the job.
Five shut-outs since he arrived, compared to two prior to 28 November, also adds weight to the improvement argument. As does the obvious betterment of the press from the front which, as Lampard points out, is where more impenetrable defending starts.
His switch to 3-5-2 in recent weeks is undoubtedly reaping dividends as well. Interestingly he points out that the players have adopted the system: "how we want it played; an aggressive not passive shape."
Things are far from perfect and clearly they were second-best in the first half at Blackburn on Tuesday as the much-improved Oliver Dovin in goal pulled off some tremendous saves, including one absolutely top drawer stop, to keep the opposition at bay.
Successful teams are always built on solid foundations – clean sheets in each of the last three Championship matches at the CBS Arena is a significant step forward.
The fact they haven't kept four in a row in home games for four years is another reason to be cheerful right now.
In the words of the anthem: "Let's All Sing Together" - that's what it's about, folks, surely?
Norwich, Coventry, Swansea and Peterborough are among the EFL clubs keeping tabs on teenage Wales midfielder Joe Andrews, who plays for non-league Chippenham. (Football Insider, external)
Oxford United won't cash in on 21-year-old Tyler Goodrham during the transfer window despite interest from the likes of Coventry, Leeds and Sunderland. (Oxford Mail, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.
In-form Coventry City welcome Watford to the CBS Arena on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Despite their contrasting fortunes over the season so far, a win for Frank Lampard's side could haul them into the top 10 and within three points of Tom Cleverley's Hornets.
Coventry have lost one of their past 11 league games against Watford, a 3-2 defeat in November 2020.
Each of Watford's past four away league games against Coventry have ended in draws, as many as across their prior 32 matches combined.
Coventry have kept a clean sheet in each of their past three home league games (W2 D1) and will be looking to keep four in succession for the first time since January 2021.
After beating Derby County 2-0 in their last league game on the road, Watford will be looking to win successive away matches in the Championship for the first time since December 2023.
Brandon Thomas-Asante has scored in his past two league games, having scored once in his first 25 league appearances for Coventry. He last scored in three consecutive Football League appearances in January 2022 for Salford City.
Image source, PA MediaCoventry City boss Frank Lampard has told BBC CWR that their win against Blackburn Rovers was "a step forward" for his camp having beaten the play-off chasers to move up to 13th in the Championship table.
"It was a difficult first half, we weren't at our best. But we got the goal and I think we deserved a moment like that. Sometimes we've not got what we deserved. We had to take the opportunity to be one up at half-time," he said.
"Our second goal was a really good goal and we had other chances as well. We did some of the difficult stuff you have to do on a night like this. We dug in, defended well and we saw out the game really well.
"Our impact subs did really well so it was a good night and a step forward again.
"They had a couple of moments and that's when we started to make changes. We made some changes for freshness and the players that came in gave us a good solidity.
"These things are important for building feeling, that we can come to places like this and win two games on the trot. Now we have to recover and go again.
"Winning games like this in midweek and coming away like this, is really important for feeling and the lads have to understand what it takes to win."
Image source, Getty ImagesCoventry City striker Ellis Simms will reproduce his goalscoring form from last season once he regains confidence, according to fan and podcaster Matt Cattell.
Simms has netted just twice in 24 Championship appearances so far this season at a rate of 0.08 goals per game, compared to 13 goals in 46 games last season - a rate of 0.28 per game.
"I thought he had a great game," Cattell told the BBC's Sky Blues Fancast, with reference to the 1-0 win over Bristol City.
"Obviously Frank [Lampard] has been working on him to get to hold the ball up, show his strength a bit.
"But he's a pure confidence player, Simms. Like he did last season, once he gets a goal or two, he'll go on to do it."
At the same stage of last season, Simms also had only two goals from 24 appearances, but went on to score 11 times in a 16-match run between December 2023 and April 2024.
Cattell believes Simms also needs time to adapt to the change in shape since Lampard took charge, playing up front alongside Brandon Thomas-Asante who arrived in the summer from West Bromwich Albion.
"With this formation, we're playing two up front which is a lot different. For years we've gone with that lone striker," he added.
"Those two [Simms and Thomas-Asante] need to gel as well. In the first half, I think Simms and Asante weren't quite clicking. But in the second half we started to see it and that will come with games."
Coventry City, QPR, Millwall and Stoke City are battling for the signature of Crystal Palace's Jeffrey Schlupp. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
Blackburn Rovers host Coventry City in a bid to stay within the play-off spots on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT).
Rovers lost to a buoyant Oxford United last time out, while the Sky Blues beat Bristol City to edge further away from relegation danger.
Coventry striker Brandon Thomas-Asante was the one to deliver the winner in their victory over the Robins and the Ghana international also has fond memories of playing against their weeknight opponents.
Blackburn Rovers are winless across their past eight league games against Coventry City (D5 L3), failing to score in each of their past three matches against the Sky Blues.
After winning the reverse league fixture 3-0 in October, Coventry City are looking to complete a league double over Blackburn Rovers for the first time since the 1966-67 season.
Each of Blackburn's past six home league wins have ended with them keeping a clean sheet, while 11 of their past 12 league games at Ewood Park have had at least one side keep a clean sheet.
After winning their first away league game under Frank Lampard at Millwall in December, Coventry are winless in their past four away league matches (D1 L3).
Coventry's Thomas-Asante has scored three goals in his past two league games against Blackburn, though failed to score in his only league game against Rovers at Ewood Park in August 2023.
Leeds United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Swansea City are all tracking Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.
Image source, Rex FeaturesCoventry City boss Frank Lampard applauds the home fans after the 1-0 win over Bristol City
Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard was pleased with the 'character' his side showed in Saturday's hard-fought 1-0 home win over Bristol City.
"It was a very good result to get," Lampard told BBC CWR.
"I am very pleased with the mentality and character of the team.
"We are missing some bodies, but players are coming in and doing their job.
"We had to fight to get the clean sheet and we got a goal we deserved through the pressure we put on them.
"It was a real moment of quality from Brandon Thomas-Asante," said the Sky Blues boss.
"It wasn't a beautiful game. There was some good stuff, but some moments of turnovers, misplaced partners and bad decisions in there as well.
"I was happy how we managed the game towards the end so I can't complain. There were some real work ethics hidden in the performance too."
After moving up to 14th in the table, City now face a tough trip to Sky Blues old boy John Eustace's Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night - nine points shy of the play-off places and six points clear of trouble,
Rob Gurney
Sports editor, BBC CWR
Image source, Rex FeaturesFrank Lampard took charge of Coventry in November
We are exactly halfway through the transfer window, and so far, there are no incomings or outgoings in CV6.
Coventry head coach Frank Lampard has again spoken about the size of his squad, saying, "It isn't huge, and we need players to play well, stay fit and compete well."
This indicates he wants to add to what owner/chairman Doug King mistakenly called a "top six deck" at the now-infamous post-Mark Robins-sacking fans' forum.
Leadership, or lack of it on the field, remains an issue, and, in Lampard's own words, they are missing some big players.
Haji Wright is not especially close to a return, by the sounds of it, and the fact he remains this season's top scorer with seven goals, having not played since 9 November, tells you plenty.
Ephron Mason-Clark, who was bang in form when he was injured on Boxing Day, is not likely to be around for a couple more weeks either, increasing everybody's frustrations about a season of potentially lost opportunities.
Lampard's apparent dismissal of interest in Brandon Thomas-Asante is another hint that he wants to add, rather than subtract, bodies from his group.
Not too much should be read into 33-year-old Coventry-born forward Jamie Paterson training with The Sky Blues, with Lampard stating he was just training with them while he was without a club.
Recalling Ryan Howley and Jack Burroughs from their respective loan spells in Scotland gives Lampard a chance to look at them firsthand before deciding the next move for them.
Inevitably, the rumour mill is in overdrive, but Lampard insists half the stories linking them with players are "nonsense", and he admits they are looking in both the permanent and loan markets.
Put it this way, for me: the second half of January (and into February 3 at 11pm) needs to be far more productive than the first half has been.
We will all just have to watch this space.
