Coventry City

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard says that he hasn't yet had "clarity" on security protocols for Saturday's visit to Sheffield Wednesday.

Further protests are expected at Hillsborough over the financial turmoil at the club that has seen players yet again face late payments.

Lampard says he wants some reassurance for the safety of his team if there are protests during the game.

"I have to think for Coventry City and my players and the things that I'm hearing about people might come on the pitch," Lampard told BBC Radio Coventry.

"We haven't had massive clarity in our conversations this morning on our players' security, their players' security, what might happen.

"Sheffield Wednesday have to deal with their end but we want that communicated to us. What are the variables that may happen, what are the consequences of what might happen because we saw Ipswich and Blackburn recently, which is still on-going. That was a natural cause, this may not be.

"I want some clarity on that, I haven't heard much. There are conversations on-going this morning and outside of that, I'll focus on my job of trying to get my team ready."

Lampard also confirmed there is still some injury doubt over midfielders Josh Eccles (glute) and Victor Torp (ankle) however they are set to train on Friday and are not yet ruled out for Saturday's game.

Listen to the full interview with Lampard and more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Coventry could go top of the Championship, for a few hours at least, with a win at second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The unbeaten Sky Blues romped to a 4-0 win at Millwall on Wednesday night to go second, two points behind Middlesbrough, who visit Portsmouth later on Saturday afternoon.

City's 22 goals scored in eight games, and +15 goal difference are by far the best, not forgetting they have played out two 0-0 draws already.

Wednesday were seconds away from an eye-catching win at Birmingham on Tuesday, which would have hauled them out of the relegation zone, only for a 99th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw to extend Blues unbeaten home run to 28 matches.

They have taken four points from their past two away games, but last Saturday's 1-1 draw against QPR was their first point, and first goal of the season at Hillsborough after three straight defeats to begin their home campaign.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost just three of their past 11 home league games against Coventry City (W6 D2), though the Owls have lost both in the past two seasons.

• Coventry City have won four of their last five league games against Sheffield Wednesday (L1), scoring exactly two goals in each victory during that time.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their past three Championship matches (W1 D2), and will be looking to go four in a row without defeat for the first time since December 2024 (4).

• Coventry City have only won one of their past four Championship away games against Yorkshire sides (D1 L2), although that one victory did come in this fixture last season (2-1 in February).

• Frank Lampard is unbeaten against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship (P3 W2 D1), only facing Hull City (5) and QPR (4) more often without losing as a manager in the division.

Double-backflipping defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden says he was thrilled to score in Coventry City's "incredible" win at Millwall on Wednesday.

The unbeaten Sky Blues hammered the Lions 4-0 with substitute Kesler-Hayden netting the fourth goal three minutes from time and celebrating with his trademark gymnastics move in front of the 2,800 travelling fans.

"Yeah it was crazy," he told BBC CWR. "I really enjoyed coming on and getting the minutes I'm getting.

"It's incredible, 4-0 away from home is a massive result.

"It's a tough place to come and I'm glad we can carry on with this unbeaten run.

"The team's got so many goals in it and people that can affect the game. If we want to get to where we want to everyone has to play their part."

Image source, Rex Features

The win - Coventry's fourth out of eight games in the Championship - keeps Frank Lampard's side on the heels of leaders Middlesbrough in second place.

Kesler-Hayden, who joined the Sky Blues from West Midlands neighbours Aston Villa in the summer, says their good form is being helped by their excellent team spirit.

"From the moment I walked in for pre-season I could feel it straight away - that togetherness - and the lads buzzing to come in every day," he said.

"As the season goes on things will only get stronger and we'll be a better team than we are.

"To build that connection with the fans really pushes us. We're delighted with the way it's going."

Coventry are on the road again at the weekend with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday (12:30 BST)

Kesler-Hayden is already targeting another good result to make it three wins in seven days.

"Recovery's really important but it's a three-game week and there's a going to be a lot of them. If we can go and get a result - what a week it would've been."

"It was just such a great team performance."

BBC CWR's Lorna Bailey and Will Oelrich are joined by Sky Blues fans Adam and Ben to reflect on Coventry City's 3-0 derby day win against Birmingham City, as well as discussing what to expect in Wednesday night's Championship encounter with Millwall (19:45 BST).

Listen to the full episode of the Sky Blues Fancast and more on BBC Sounds.

Millwall host Coventry City on Wednesday night (19:45 BST), with the home side occupying 10th in the Championship table and having not lost a league game since the end of August.

Frank Lampard's Coventry City come into this one off the back of a dominating 3-0 victory over Birmingham City at the weekend but will be without Jack Rudoni, who will be sidelined for a few weeks.

The Lions have already been triumphant over the Sky Blues this season after they recorded a 2-1 win in the League Cup back in August.

• Millwall are winless in five league meetings with Coventry (D1 L4), their longest winless run against them since April 1964 (6).

• Coventry have won away to Millwall in both of the past two league seasons – the only time they have ever enjoyed back-to-back league wins away to the Lions.

• Millwall have won six of their last eight Championship home games (L2), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W6 D4 L6).

• Coventry are looking to avoid defeat in each of their opening four away games of a league campaign in the top two tiers for the sixth time, and first since 1993-94 in the Premier League.

• Millwall's Alex Neil has only lost one of his five Championship managerial games against Coventry (W2 D2), a 0-2 defeat with Stoke in October 2022.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard says Jack Rudoni will be out for "weeks" with a calf injury he picked up in last week's draw at Leicester City.

After the Sky Blues had beaten Birmingham City the manager told BBC Radio CWR: "He's got a calf injury so will be out for some weeks. We can't put a date on it at this point but it's disappointing.

"The injury came from the Leicester game. He's had a bad shoulder all week and hasn't really trained, so we only found out at the back end of the week. It's a big loss for us."

Lampard was delighted with his team, and supporters, as they continued their unbeaten start to the Championship season, saying: "Outstanding atmosphere for a derby game - the fans were great and the players were brilliant, with everybody focused, ready to compete and ready to play.

"At 11 v 11 we got our goal and I thought they were really tough opposition after a good start to the season, but you could see we were at it, and the fans reacted to that.

"When they went to 10 men it's not easy to deal with, but we dealt with it brilliantly. We played high up in their half and kept doing the right things.

"We got our two goals in the second half and we got a clean sheet, and the focus of the team was amazing."

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media ahead of the West Midlands derby against Birmingham City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• Lampard says Coventry respected Leicester City last weekend when they played them due to their Premier League prowess and will similarly respect Birmingham City due to their "quality of players", their squad depth and high-pressing style of play implemented by a "good coach" in Chris Davies.

• He is aware the Birmingham players are used to picking up lots of points following their record-breaking total of 111 in League One last season and believes that achievement, combined with a high level of investment this summer, would have boosted confidence at the club.

• Before a strenuous week ahead with two 12:30 kick-offs and two away fixtures out of a three-game week, Lampard is calling for the league to "be more diligent" about tight schedules for teams.

• During the upcoming week with a hectic schedule, Lampard aims to "use the squad as well as possible in those three games while remaining as strong as possible".

• He added that the atmosphere at the Coventry Building Society Arena is "something to be proud of" and something to get excited about on derby day.

Listen to the full interview with Lampard and more Coventry content on Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Chris Davies' Birmingham City travel less than an hour along the M6 to Frank Lampard's Coventry City in a West Midlands derby on Saturday (12:30 BST).

A win for either side would propel them above the other in the Championship table as each have 10 points from their opening six matches.

The Sky Blues are coming off the back of three draws, while Blues hope to build a winning run after beating Swansea City 1-0 last time out.

• Coventry are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Birmingham (W3 D3), conceding just one goal in this run.

• Birmingham won their last league meeting with Coventry 3-0 in April 2024, last beating the Sky Blues twice in succession in the 2006-07 campaign.

• Coventry are unbeaten in their first six league games of a season for the first time since 2019-20 (first 10 in League One) and for the first time in the second tier or higher since the 1993-94 Premier League campaign (first eight).

• No Championship team have scored more 90th minute goals (including stoppage time) this season than Birmingham who have scored three, with Lyndon Dykes netting a 94th minute winner against Swansea last time out.

• Coventry City's Jack Rudoni ranks first for shots attempted (21), ball carry distance (1,425m) and possession won in the final third (10) among all Championship players this season.

Image source, BBC Sport

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR after the Sky Blues' goalless draw at Leicester.

"Both teams traded [control in the first half] - we started the game really well and they finished the half well. And the second half was a bit move wavy and open at points," he said.

"We lacked a little bit of quality and sharpness from what we have shown, especially on transitions, and we were just a little off it today which affected our goal threat.

"If you have one of those days, it's normal - but you have to make sure you defend well and be a team."

On the performance of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth: "He is a really good goalkeeper and it's so difficult – I'm so pleased I never was one because it's so difficult with everyone focused on every bit of what you do. Every part of his game was spot-on today.

"That is why you want top goalkeepers in your team, for days like today where you rely on them a little bit. I don't think they created loads of great stuff, but when he was needed he absolutely produced a very good personal performance."

Defender Bobby Thomas says he is looking to add more goals to his game as Coventry prepare for Saturday's M69 derby against Leicester City.

The 24-year-old has already netted once this season for the Sky Blues, in their 5-3 win away against Derby County.

"I think scoring goals is something that comes with my game. I think I'm quite aggressive with my nature and I'm able to sniff out a chance," Thomas told BBC CWR.

"I'm always looking to score more goals. The more you score, the better you feel."

Thomas is relishing the prospect of making the short journey to the King Power Stadium.

"I think we are all really confident going into the game, taking nothing away from Leicester, they are a good side, but obviously we are going to focus on ourselves and taking our game to them," added Thomas.

"I'm sure our support will be amazing. That doesn't really need mentioning because it has been a constant for the whole time that I've been here, but it is a big occasion for the club and it is a derby so not much else needs to be said."

Listen to Thomas' full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard says Saturday's game against Leicester City provides a "different challenge" to what the club have faced so far this season.

The Sky Blues travel to Leicester for the M69 derby on Saturday (12:30 BST).

"We have got to understand the different challenges this game has compared to the games we have played so far," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR.

"We have played very well so far. I don't want to say dominated, but we have had the fair share of the games we have played so far, so we have to be ready for their strengths, but not to feel inferior in any way.

"We need to feed into the rivalry of the game in a positive way. We need to understand the game, the level of the game and the emotions of the game as well."

Lampard's side head into the trip on the back of a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at the CBS Arena, where a stoppage-time goal from Haji Wright rescued a point.

"Haji is playing really well and it is great to see," Lampard added. "He is great to work with and he is giving teams all sorts of problems.

"To do anything at any level in football as a coach you need your players to really grow and affect games. We have different players who can [do that], but at the moment Haji is doing that, and we hope that continues."

Leicester will seek to end Coventry's unbeaten start to the Championship season when the Sky Blues head to the King Power on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

While the Foxes have suffered a defeat in their opening five league games, they lie fourth, one point and two places ahead of Frank Lampard's men, who have drawn three of their opening five fixtures, including each of the past two.

• Leicester City are unbeaten in each of their past nine home league games against Coventry City (W7 D2), since losing 3-1 at Filbert Street in the Premier League in April 2001.

• Coventry City beat Leicester City in their most recent league meeting in January last year, last winning back-to-back matches against the Foxes in the 2000-01 Premier League campaign under Gordon Strachan.

• Between December and April last season, Leicester City lost nine consecutive home league matches, failing to score in every single defeat. Since May, the Foxes have won all four at the King Power, netting twice in every victory and keeping three clean sheets.

• Coventry have scored 15 Championship goals this season, their most after five league games in a season since scored 16 in 2013-14 in League One. At this level, it's their most since 1964-65 when they scored 16.

• No player has more Championship goals this season than Coventry's Haji Wright (five goals), with the American netting in all four starts in 2025-26. It's as many goals as the Sky Blues scored as a team after five games in four of their previous five seasons (five in each of 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2024-25).

Marc Webber
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

A lot of Coventry fans were frustrated as they filed out of their team's game with Norwich on Saturday.

Sky Blues manager Frank Lampard admitted to feeling the same way in his post-match press conference.

It was the first time this season the dark arts of football had been applied against this free-scoring team.

But Lampard said he was proud of the way his side kept their cool over the numerous injury stoppages that broke Coventry's tempo.

And he's right to be positive, despite the fact they could have scored more.

Cavalier Coventry need to keep firing on all cylinders to remain Championship contenders, whatever is thrown at them.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC CWR after his side's 1-1 draw with Norwich City:

"It was a fanastic performance from the team, from minute one.

"We started the game really well and they score from their first little moment, but we continued all the way through and created a lot.

"We moved the ball really well, looked really sharp, everything you want in a performance, the only thing you're lacking is the win and that's because it's one of those days.

"Then it's a test of character and they certainly stood up to that because we pushed until the end of the game.

"And barring the natural disappointment of the three points which you don't get, I'm really proud of the players."