Frank Lampard Delivers Coventry City Verdict After Victory Against Sunderland

Frank Lampard said his Coventry City side were a pleasure to watch after they blew away play-off rivals Sunderland in style at the CBS Arena.

A Haji Wright hat-trick put the fourth placed Black Cats to the sword in the best game and performance of the season so far from the Sky Blues, who moved back up to fifth place, having dropped down to seventh due to results on Friday night.

Head coach Lampard said after Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat at Derby that he wanted a reaction from his side, and he certainly got one against City’s bitter Championship rivals who extended their miserable record of not winning in Coventry for over 40 years.

“I think ‘wow’ is the right word in terms of reaction (from the midweek result) and performance,” he said, speaking after the 3-0 victory.

“From minute one we controlled it in the first half, moved the ball quickly and moved it well, did the things we spoke about, attacked the sides of the pitch…

“Sunderland are a really good team, a really strong team in this league and we knew that and what tempo was ahead of us over the course of the season, but the counter pressing at winning the ball back, the energy and speed in our game was brilliant and it was a pleasure to watch the first half.

“The concern at half-time was to continue because the game is always going to look different in the second half but we managed it brilliantly, so spot on, everything today.”

Asked if it was the best and most complete performance since taking charge, he said: “Yes, it was, there’s no getting away from that. It’s a high level opponent who can give you a lot of problems in different ways but we got every part of our game right.

“We prepped a lot, as we obviously do for every game, but with the respect for Sunderland from Thursday morning when we came in it was about how we wanted to work off the ball. Friday was about how we wanted to work on the ball and the players took every bit on board and every individual in the team performed at a really, really high level.

“That’s how I want the team to play and the lads delivered it.”

As for Wright’s contribution, which saw the striker score the opener from just outside the area and then win a penalty and convert it from the spot seven minutes later in the first half, and then added a third after the break when he was played through for a second time by Victor Torp, Lampard said: “It speaks for itself doesn’t it, three goals, a constant problem, great quality, great quality finishing and great movement.

“He won headers and went physically toe to toe with defenders and his work ethic off the ball was great. I haven’t worked with him properly and he’s had two sub appearances before the Derby start, which was a really tough game for him, but today was Haji in match winning form and great to see.”