Victor Torp’s late penalty saved the former England player from a debut loss against Cardiff on Saturday, resulting in a 2-2 draw in Frank Lampard first game as Coventry manager. After longtime manager Mark Robins unexpectedly lost his job on November 7, Lampard took over as manager of Championship team Coventry on a two-and-a-half-year deal. For the first time since he left his second stint as Chelsea manager in May 2023, the 46-year-old is back in management after the Sky Blues recruited him on Thursday.
After his first spell with Chelsea ended in January 2021 with his dismissal, Lampard is looking to restore his managerial reputation.
A year later, as manager of Everton, the former Chelsea midfielder—the team’s all-time top scorer—returned to the Premier League.
Difficult season the following year, he was fired less than a year after taking Everton out of relegation in 2022.
After that, Lampard rejoined Chelsea as a temporary manager, although he won just one of his 11 games and was let go at the end of the 2022–2023 season.
After spending a season in charge of Derby in 2018–19, Lampard returned to the Championship and watched as Yakou Meite scored a goal for Cardiff in the fourth minute, giving Coventry a terrible start.
Ephron Mason-Clark quickly equalized for Coventry as both clubs sought to snap a four-game losing streak.
Torp scored from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, but Alex Robertson’s incredible goal just after halftime appeared to have sealed the three points for Cardiff.
Cardiff was just one point behind Coventry, who were now three points clear of the relegation zone.
“There are some basics in football that have to be there, particularly in this Championship and the nature of it, which is first balls, second balls, fight, sprints and reactions,” Lampard stated.
“I believe that as a group, we can be harder. There is a lot to take on and improve upon since I feel that our performance today is a little off right now.
However, I’m happy that we’ve made our point, so I don’t want to err on the side of negativity. I am familiar with this league.
Following a 4-0 loss to Bristol City, Lampard’s former England teammate Wayne Rooney is facing increasing criticism at Plymouth.
Leeds lost 1-0 against Blackburn, wasting the opportunity to move back to the top of the league.
A resolute defensive performance confounded Daniel Farke’s visitors, and Todd Cantwell’s penalty in the 22nd minute was sufficient to secure Blackburn’s third straight victory.
Jay Rodriguez’s first goal and Josh Brownhill’s penalty in the 78th minute helped Burnley defeat Stoke 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium to make it four straight victories, moving them up to second place above Leeds.
After losing 3-1 to Middlesbrough in their first game after firing Tim Walter in the middle of the week, managerless Hull are now in the relegation zone.
Norwich improved on their 4-2 victory over Plymouth in the middle of the week thanks to late goals from Emiliano Marcondes and Borja Sainz.
Read More: Harry Kane Limps Off As Bayern Munich Rescue Draw at Borussia Dortmund
