FOOTBALL – Frank Lampard wants Coventry City to be ‘tougher’ after Cardiff draw.
FRANK Lampard wants Coventry City to be tougher after starting his reign as Sky Blues boss with a draw against Cardiff City.
Coventry rescued a late point courtesy of Victor Torp’s penalty after goals from Yakou Meite and Alex Robertson twice put Cardiff ahead following Ephron Mason-Clark’s early leveller at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
And after beginning his reign with a point, Lampard admits Coventry need to get the basics right before they start to climb up the Championship table.
Lampard said: “A mixture of feelings, some good, some less so in terms of performance, I’m pleased to get the point considering the circumstances.
“Good reactions, good character, good impact from certain subs, our reaction took a while after we conceded early in the second half, I saw some things that relate to why we are where we are.
“There are some basics in football that have to be there, first balls, second balls, fight, sprints and reactions and being a bit tougher, that’s something as a group we can be.
“That’s not to say the lads aren’t tough, in terms of our performance we were slightly off in moments, lots to take on and work on.”
Torp levelled the game from the penalty spot two minutes from time to cancel out Robertson’s strike from distance early in the second period.
That came after Meite headed Cardiff into the lead after just four minutes only for Mason-Clark to draw City level with his first goal for the club three minutes later.
Lampard received a warm welcome from the Sky Blues faithful, after replacing Mark Robins in the CBS Arena hotseat.
And the new Coventry boss admits only a positive run of results and performances can build up a relationship between himself and the club’s supporters.
Lampard added: “I’m very thankful for that from the fans, I understand the legacy of the last manager, I’m not here to fight that, I’m here to try and do my job.
“It’s very rousing the way they sing before the game, it was amazing, I loved it, it was a great experience.
“We want more than a draw but they were very supportive, that relationship is all about us now. It’s about what momentum we can create at home.
“That’s why I’m disappointed with the bits I felt we’re short in, winning a second ball, it feels like an old-school comment but it engages the crowd.
“If we’re playing for a club and a city with this kind of fanbase, the first thing they will relate to is that reaction and fight.
“It’s not that the players are short in intentions, it’s about how we’re going to make sure that’s what we become as a football team.”
Lampard reverted to a four-at-the-back system against the Bluebirds and hopes pushing a player further forward will lead to greater efficiency at the top end of the pitch.
Lampard said: “I know what this league is like, it’s not easy to get momentum, we’ll have to fight for momentum.
“There’s always going to be some challenges to move to a back four, you expect some things to be not quite right and we saw that.
“But better for me to get there quickly and make the decision to try and do that.
“If we want to be more effective at the top end of the pitch with pressing and our attacking play, playing with an extra attacking player is an important part of that.”
Coventry are next in action against Millwall on Saturday December 7 with kick-off at 3pm at The Den.
