Frank Lampard says now isn’t the time to get down about his Coventry facet’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg defeat to Sunderland.
The Sky Blues – who completed fifth, seven factors behind their opponents through the common season – dominated the ball on the Coventry Constructing Society Enviornment on Friday evening, however had been held at arm’s size for lengthy spells by Regis Le Bris’ defensively resolute workforce.
And although Jack Rudoni cancelled out Wilson Isidor’s opener inside two minutes of it hitting the again of the web, Milan van Ewijk’s blind backpass gifted Eliezer Mayenda the winner, which places the Black Cats within the driving seat forward of Tuesday’s second leg on the Stadium of Gentle, which is reside on Sky Sports activities.
“It was a great efficiency from the workforce,” he mentioned. “We pushed and pushed, and dominated possession of the ball. We’re unlucky to be one behind going into the second leg.
“We performed them right here six, seven weeks in the past or so and, with the way in which we have been enjoying, I perceive it as a coach, you need to come out and negate the areas that we would like, so we managed a variety of it.
“I could not complain with the gamers when it comes to the low block. You may say transfer it faster, do that, try this. It isn’t straightforward. It isn’t straightforward towards that.
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“And so they defended their field rather well. Typically you simply say nicely executed to the opposition.
“If you happen to’ve bought eight our bodies within the field and also you’re crossing it, it is laborious. We defended nicely and on one other day issues go for you over the course of 90 minutes. They did not fairly go for us tonight.
“Will the sport appear like this on Tuesday? I am undecided. So actually not time for us to get too down about it.”
On Van Ewijk’s error, which left the Dutch defender in tears after the ultimate whistle, he mentioned: “We do not have to speak about that now. He is been good for us.”
Sunderland take a late lead after an enormous mistake late on from Coventry.
Lampard was reminded of the 2018/19 season, when his Derby facet misplaced 1-0 to Leeds within the Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Satisfaction Park, however scored 4 second-half objectives in an exhilarating second leg to win 4-3 on combination.
Nevertheless, he didn’t need to be drawn on comparisons.
“It is nothing to do with it as a result of that is one other group of gamers that we have,” he added.
“They’re one other group of gamers. It is a totally different recreation. I perceive your level, nevertheless it’s nothing to do with it. That is the previous.
“It’s going to be a tricky recreation for us, nevertheless it’s clearly nonetheless very, very shut.
“We go once more Tuesday. Easy.”
Morrison: Coventry have to enter second leg assured
Clinton Morrison on Sky Sports activities Soccer:
“They’re nonetheless on this. They dominated possession. They did not create as a lot as they needed, however the recreation will open up on the Stadium of Gentle and so they’ve simply go to go there stuffed with confidence.
“What they have there’s a supervisor who is aware of what he is speaking about. He’ll settle them down, chill out, and he will not be important of them.
“However he does have to choose up Van Ewijk as a result of he was in tears on the finish. Everybody makes errors however he is bought to recuperate and go once more.”
Davies: Each objectives had been so avoidable
Curtis Davies on Sky Sports activities Soccer:
“The distinction with the Derby situation is that Leeds got here and comprehensively beat Derby [in the first leg] and also you assume it is going to be the identical within the second. They beat us 3 times that season, and also you assume going to Elland Highway shall be an uphill activity.
“Whereas tonight his workforce has dominated, and in my view each objectives are so avoidable. For Van Ewijk it is about his character and what he reveals in coaching. If he makes one mistake early within the subsequent recreation he may go underneath.”
