A year ago Frank Lampard was out of work, his reputation was bruised after difficult spells at Chelsea and Everton, and Coventry were 17th in the Championship, just two points above the relegation zone. Few would have predicted that a manager searching for redemption and a club looking for direction would come together and produce one of the most complete teams in English football.
As we go into the October international break, Coventry are the only unbeaten professional side in English football. They are the top scorers in the Championship with 27 goals and they have the third best defensive record in the division, having conceded just seven goals in their first nine games. If anything, they seem to be getting better; they have won their last three matches 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0. Under Lampard, Coventry have become one of the most balanced and clinical teams in the league; he has turned relegation candidates into promotion challengers.
When Lampard arrived at the club in November 2024 he inherited a side that was struggling to find their rhythm. They had managed just four wins in 16 games under Mark Robbins that season. After seven and a half years under his management – a period that brought two promotions, an FA Cup semi-final they lost on penalties and a Championship playoff final they also lost on penalties – the team appeared to have finally hit a wall.
Robbins left the foundations of a top side; Lampard’s job was to steady the ship and restore momentum. In his first few months he tightened up the defence, increased the attacking tempo and, most importantly, injected belief and passion into the team. The results were clear to see: Coventry went on their best run in the league for 55 years, winning nine of their 10 games between mid-January and mid-March, and finishing the season in fifth. Despite losing to Sunderland in the playoff semi-finals – they were beaten by a goal in the 122nd minute – Lampard had laid the groundwork for the incredible team we are seeing this season.
Lampard likes to take risks and his attacking philosophy is paying off. Coventry are bold in transition, moving the ball vertically and with intent, prioritising fast progression towards the goal rather than patient possession. Lampard also encourages his team to play with freedom: wingers drive at defenders, midfielders attempt incisive passes, full-backs push high to deliver early crosses, and players are told to test goalkeepers.
This approach has created one of the league’s most direct, exciting sides; they lead the Championship for shots (158), shots on target (52) and chances created (92), and they have taken the most touches in the opposition’s final third and penalty area. They have scored more goals this season than second placed Middlesbrough (12) and third-placed Leicester (13) combined.
Crucially, they have struck the right balance between attack and defence. “We’re playing with the perfect mix of detail and freedom,” says the Coventry midfielder Matt Grimes. Before Lampard took over, the team were conceding 1.5 goals per game; that figure has dropped to just 0.78 goals this season. They have kept clean sheets in five of their nine games this season.
“We weren’t compact enough, we weren’t aggressive enough, so we tried to really prioritise our off-the-ball work,” said Lampard towards the end of last season. That shift has clearly paid off. Lines became tighter, pressing more coordinated and individual errors reduced. Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching have been rocks at the back; between them they have been dribbled past just five times this season.
Lampard has built this side with just a £3.5m summer spend. Holding on to midfielder Jack Rudoni, despite interest from Southampton and Newcastle, has proven as valuable as any new signing. He leads the team in progressive carries, shot-creating actions, take-ons and tackles in the final third. Only Haji Wright – the top scorer in the Championship with eight goals – is taking more shots per game than Rudoni. Keeping Milan van Ewijk has been just as important. The right-back, who nearly moved to Wolfsburg for £10m in the summer – has five assists this season, as many as anyone in the division.
Lampard has a history of developing players, having brought the best from Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori while in charge of Derby in the Championship. We are seeing the same at Coventry. Wright, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Victor Torp scored 22 goals between them last season; they have already scored 18 this season. Grimes, who was signed for £3.5m in January, is also thriving as the engine of the team. He has created 20 chances and attempted the second most passes in the division with a massive 83.6% completion rate. There is confidence and belief wherever you look with this team.
While Lampard has been careful to temper expectations, saying: “We worked hard and had a good startup, and it’s important we keep our feet on the ground,” fans can’t help but be excited by what they are seeing. Coventry’s next four games are against teams that are 21st, 14th, 18th and 24th in the league, so that unbeaten run could continue for a while. It is still early doors but, as the season progresses, the ambition might just move from the playoffs to the title.
This is an article by WhoScored
