Frank Lampard has explained his thinking around one of Coventry City’s biggest “talking points” in recent weeks – who should play in goal.
The Sky Blues boss kept faith with Brad Collins for six games after stepping off the bench for Oliver Dovin when the Swede was stretchered off against Sheffield United at the end of March.
The former Barnsley stopper did well at Bramall Lane but has come in for intense criticism from some sections of the fans for mistakes, namely against Burnley and Plymouth. And a sudden rush to the head late on against Luton last week put a dampener on what had been an impressive display to that point.
That proved to be the turning point for Lampard to make the change, albeit throwing Wilson into a huge final game of the regular season despite not having played for seven months, largely due to a knee ligament injury.
It proved to be an inspired selection decision on the day as the 32-year-old pulled off a number of crucial saves in City’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough to secure the club’s place in the play-off semi-finals.
“Ben’s personality and character is a sure thing in terms of how he is in the dressing room, so I wasn’t worried at all about his handling of the thing but it’s another thing to go and see him handle it because I haven’t seen Ben play,” explained Lampard, who has steered clear of the delicate goalkeeping subject in recent weeks.
“So I think the goalkeeper thing is such a talking point, and I understand it. When I came in all three goalkeepers had played. That’s not normal and it’s challenging, to be fair, for different circumstances.
“And then Ollie gets in and has a consistent run and does his ACL and I felt for Brad, because he’s done some good things for us as well but in the last couple of games there have been some tough moments.
“Ben’s injury has been a difficult one that has been affecting his training for a period of time. I chat with Ben a lot and he was saying, ‘I am just starting to feel better, gaffer,’ and he’s sort of banging on my door in the end. But I needed to see that in training, and now I have seen him in game. And it was a first class performance in many senses – big saves, calm on the ball, comes out of his box and so I am really, really pleased for him.”
Asked if it was a difficult decision to make this week, the head coach said: “No decision like that is easy, particularly with a goalkeeper because I respect Brad, Ben and Ollie, whoever it is in that position. It’s the one position that gets more traction when you make a change, so I felt for the lads personally. And that’s one of the reasons I chose not to be a goalkeeper as a player because I can understand that pressure.
“So it wasn’t easy because I have to think about every part of it. But when I thought about it I felt it was a decision that was the right one and we obviously won the game, so I am happy in this instance.”
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