Frank Lampard felt for his Coventry City players after they gave up a slender 1-0 lead at Carrow Road where Norwich snatched a stoppage time victory to deny his side the three points.
The Sky Blues got themselves in front from a well-worked first half goal that started and finished with Milan van Ewijk. They then appeared to have ridden a second half fightback from the Canaries until substitute Amankwah Forson curled a stunning equaliser into the top corner before drilling home the winner minutes later which deflected off Jake Bidwell to beat Oliver Dovin in goal.
Put to him that it was a horrible way to lose a game of football, Lampard said: “Yeah, and I’m disappointed for the players because they gave everything. We were really good in our defensive game, off the ball, very, very good and showed great character, great organisation going through the plan. And so I just felt for them because it happens in football.”
Reflecting on the wonder goal equaliser, the City boss added: “I think the lad probably puts it in a top corner and you can’t do much about that. That’s what changed the game. If they didn’t score that I think we’d have seen the game out. But that changed the flow a bit at the end and the rest is circumstance, and it’s unfortunate for the players because they deserve more.”
Asked if he thought there was a case for a foul on Joel Latibeaudiere in the build-up to the winning goal, he said: “I don’t know.”
City, meanwhile, passed up the opportunity to secure the three points seven minutes from time when striker Brandon Thomas-Asante went clean through but put his shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
“Yeah, probably,” agreed Lampard, when asked about the missed opportunity, “but Norwich are a good team and are very strong at home. We knew that and I think that’s why we set up as we did, changing to a back three today because of a choice with the opponent but also because of the injuries that we have in our wide areas which means that sometimes you almost forced to go that way.
“But it gave us solidity and it gave us a real base. The players worked hard, if Brandon scores… and it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t because I thought he had a really good game, then I think we probably win the game. But that’s the ifs and buts of football.”
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