It`s incredibly impressive to get 30 points out of a possible 36 in any soccer league. In a league as competitive as the Championship, it`s almost unbelievable. This league is known for being unpredictable, where even the top teams can struggle against those fighting to avoid relegation.
Coventry City`s consistent performance since January 4th is definitely worth noting. Back then, after losing 2-1 to Norwich City, they were in 15th place. A season that looked promising at the start seemed to be going nowhere by the halfway point.
However, twelve games later, Coventry is now seriously in the playoff race. They might be a bit late to catch up for automatic promotion, especially with Sheffield United (their upcoming opponent) holding one of those spots. But with eight games remaining, Coventry has something very valuable at this stage: momentum.
The reason for this turnaround seems to be Frank Lampard and his coaching team. The former England player joined Coventry looking to prove himself after disappointing times at Chelsea and Everton. He found a team that was already playing quite well statistically under the previous manager, Mark Robins, but they lacked confidence.
That lack of belief has been fixed. According to star player Jack Rudoni, the training ground is now a very happy place.
Building Confidence
`A lot of credit goes to the new staff,` Rudoni told CBS Sports. `They`ve made everything enjoyable and have clearly told us what they expect. Everyone knows what we should be doing, and training is fun. They are just good people you can talk to and enjoy being around.`
`This has brought the players closer together, and the wins make it even better. The atmosphere in the locker room right now is amazing. Everyone is really excited.`
Of course, good vibes alone don`t get you the most points in the Championship since the FA Cup third round, with only Liverpool performing better during that period. Lampard made some tactical changes after an injury, switching to a back three formation. Coventry has recently moved away from this formation, but their performance hasn`t dropped.
For Rudoni, the formation change has also benefited him, allowing him to play as an attacking midfielder in a 4-3-3 system. They`re having more possession, and although they are taking slightly fewer shots, the quality of these shots, in terms of expected goals, is significantly better.
Sheffield United vs. Coventry City
- Date: Friday, Mar. 28
- Location: Bramall Lane — Sheffield, United Kingdom
- TV: CBS Sports Golazo Network | Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Sheffield United +110; Draw +240; Coventry +250
Coventry`s expected goals (xG) stats are interesting. Despite their improved results, their underlying numbers haven`t changed much. In 14 games under Robins, their non-penalty xG difference per game was 0.46. In 28 games under Lampard, it`s still 0.46. Under Robins, Coventry was slightly underperforming their xG, but under Lampard, they are performing as expected.
The fact that the xG is similar doesn`t take away from what the new manager has achieved. An expected goal difference of 0.5 per game is typical for a team aiming for promotion. Lampard`s impact has been to help the team achieve results that match their potential.
However, data doesn`t tell the whole story. The changes in the team spirit are also crucial. This is a talented squad – they`ve signed good players like Viktor Gyokores – but they needed to rediscover their confidence and believe they could be the promotion contenders many predicted at the start of the season.
Rudoni mentions how assistant manager Joe Edwards` video analysis helped him and Mason-Clark in a recent win against Preston.
`Before that game, Joe showed me clips of a previous game where Ephron crossed the ball to me, and I scored a header. He reminded us of how well we can work together. Just 20 minutes into the Preston game, we scored almost the exact same goal.`
Lampard`s Influence
It was a typical Lampard-style goal – a late run into the box to attack the space created by teammates. Rudoni, who grew up admiring Lampard, is excited to be coached by his idol. He was a 10-year-old Chelsea fan when they won the Champions League, and now he`s learning from the captain of that team.
What was it like meeting Lampard for the first time?
`I just wanted to ask him so many questions. I want to learn as much as possible from him, to understand how he reached such a high level,` he said.
`I think he`d say I ask a lot of questions. But he`s one of the best players ever. Why wouldn`t I want to learn from him?`
Rudoni is not just playing under Lampard; he`s playing the Lampard role. `Working with him and learning from the best is all I could ask for. He helps me with runs into the box, finishing in and around the box, and tells me about techniques and drills that worked for him,` he added.
Lampard himself has said that this job is a learning experience for him too. His early managerial career had highs and lows, with promising starts at Derby County and Chelsea, followed by a challenging spell at Everton.
Since then, Lampard has been learning from top managers like Thomas Frank and Pep Guardiola. This has paid off. Coventry fans, initially unsure about anyone replacing the popular Mark Robins, seem to have accepted Lampard. The players also share Lampard`s desire to improve.
`As a team, we are eager to learn,` says Rudoni. `We are not arrogant. The staff came in, implemented their style, and have been excellent. We`ve embraced it, worked hard, and the wins have kept coming. Hopefully, they continue.`
If Coventry keeps winning, they will likely reach the playoffs. Winning three more games could end their 21-year absence from the Premier League. Coventry, despite recent struggles, has a rich history in the top flight, including winning the FA Cup in 1988 and a famous escape from relegation in 1997.
Reaching the Championship playoffs has brought back some excitement to the club. If Rudoni and his teammates go further than last season`s team, they will become club legends.
`I can see how much it means to the fans, and I`d be thrilled to do it for them as much as for ourselves,` he says. `They`ve been to Wembley a few times recently without winning, so I hope this is our year. Let`s make it our year. I`m ready to go to Wembley and win.`
