Coventry City’s biggest setback so far this season could also have been their biggest positive.
Frank Lampard’s side suffered a scare as their 12-match unbeaten run came to an end on Halloween against Wrexham.
“I get asked a lot about winning runs, so that probably helped me more than anyone else,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
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“When the results pile up, you start thinking about the risks of overconfidence and complacency. This loss was a reminder that the game is difficult if you are not fully focused, especially away from home.”
“We all understood it, but going through it strengthens the message. People take the positives and learn from them. Often you learn more in defeat.”
“Losing games is normal in this league. What was unusual was how strong we were at the beginning of the season. What matters is how we react after a setback. We coped well and moved on quickly.”
Lampard wins Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award for October
In the end, it was a minor flop in an exemplary start to the season for Coventry. They won their next two games and are five points clear at the top of the Championship after 15 games.
Lampard is pleased with the response to the end of last season, when they lost to Sunderland in heartbreaking last-minute circumstances in the play-off semi-finals.
“I’m very happy with our start,” he says. “After the disappointment of last season, this group has come back with real determination. We’re working with pretty much the same team as last season, just with a few additions, and they’ve been great.
“A lot of people may have thought we could make the playoffs, but it’s a credit to the players that we’re here now. The challenge is to keep improving. We can still get better, but I’m happy with the effort we’ve made so far.”
Lampard took over as manager in November last year and is now approaching one year in charge at Coventry City. It seemed like a controversial move at the time, as he replaced the legendary Mark Robbins.
But a year is a long time in this league, and that controversy is now a distant memory. Lampard’s work has been exemplary.
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Lampard looks back on his time in charge of Coventry City as he approaches his first anniversary in charge
“I enjoy working here,” he says. “I am enjoying the players and the environment. There are still areas that I would like to improve on and off the pitch, such as training ground details, recovery and preparation.”
“I have experience from my playing career and my coaching career that helps me recognize these things. I try to work hard every day and am always learning.
“You make decisions, sometimes good and sometimes regretful. That’s part of the job. In roles where you have more experience, you feel more at ease. If you work hard, you usually get what you deserve.”
Lampard, now 47, admits he is a more relaxed person now than he was as a player or when he first started managing the Championship at Derby.
His reputation speaks for itself, and he goes to great lengths to earn respect wherever he goes, but the calmness of his approach has also helped him assert his authority.
“Experience and environment help,” Lampard said. “I trust the players because they are willing to take the initiative and understand what they want to be as a team. That trust brings calm.”
“You also learn that sometimes you can work just as well without immediate reward, and avoid getting carried away when things go well.
“My personality is that I don’t get too high. I’m always looking for the next challenge and trying not to get complacent. I like to keep things stable and keep my demands high.”
That attitude is unlikely to change within Lampard until the work is completed. There are still 31 games left – starting with Saturday’s game against West Brom, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports – but Coventry are currently in about the same position going into kick-off.
Coventry attack output key
One of the most notable aspects of Coventry’s impressive season has been their output in terms of goals. There were 40 games in the first 15 games of the season. No other team in the league manages more than 26 teams.
Lampard believes consistency within the squad, which saw little change in the summer, has greatly benefited performances.
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Lampard says how impressed he was with Coventry bouncing back from their first defeat of the season to win their next two games
“Continuity is a big plus,” he says. “When you work with the same group and communicate the same message, you progress faster. The players know what we want and how we work. They are working hard, on and off the pitch.”
The club focuses on team development and getting the most out of the team, rather than continuous change. That sense of stability helps. Momentum and good results are meaningless if you become complacent, so you must maintain your concentration. We will continue to do things the right way. ”
Brandon Thomas-Asante is the championship’s leading scorer with 10 points. He had never previously scored more than 11 points in the entire league.
“Our attacking play comes from hard work on the training ground and support from our players,” Lampard said. “We don’t have many attacking options, so we have to rotate carefully. Losing Jack Rudoni was important because he was essential last season and we had to adapt to that.”
“Several players have stepped up. Brandon Thomas-Asante has come back from pre-season hungry and focused. We have worked on movement in the middle with Haji Wright and that has helped him. Our wingers have strong talent and we are managing their minutes to keep them sharp.”
“Overall, we improved the way we built plays, the way we moved the ball between the lines, the way we attacked in transition. The players took ideas and applied them well. We want to continue that and continue to be clinical when the opportunities come.”
