Full-circle moment as Lampard reflects on journey he wasn't convinced about

CommentsSportAndy Turner Coventry City reporter10:48, 10 Mar 2026League leaders Coventry City hit a bit of a full circle moment in the West County at the weekend.

The club’s first summer friendly of the current campaign on UK soil and in front of fans was in Bristol – five miles across the river from Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Ashton Gate, and a result that strengthened the club’s drive towards the Premier League. An enthusiastic 1,393-strong Sky Blue Army made the trip to the Memorial Stadium on a warm Wednesday night to see Frank Lampard’s men beat the Robins’ cross-city rivals, Rovers, by the same scoreline.

An own goal and one from Kaine Kesler-Hayden got the job done as the Coventry head coach and his staff continued to pin down what they required from their largely inherited squad during their first full pre-season together.

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It was a time of excitement coupled with a degree of uncertainty. Having reached the play-offs just a few months earlier and been so agonisingly close to progressing to the final – many believing City to be the better side over the two legs with Sunderland – hopes were high that the club could go a step further in 2026.

Others feared a play-off hangover and a summer of flux as star players Haji Wright, Jack Rudoni and Milan van Ewijk seemed to be a constant source of speculation linking them with interest from higher placed clubs.

Few, however, including Lampard, envisaged what was to come.

“Yeah, it’s some journey in honesty,” said the 47-year-old, reflecting on the last eight months which has seen the Sky Blues set the Championship promotion pace, sitting top of the league for a large chunk of the season.

And now, with just ten games to go the finish line is in sight.

“I remember the (Bristol Rovers) game and the feeling in the pre-season. We managed to keep hold of players that were involved in our great run last year in the second half of the season. That was a positive. And at that point as a manager, you’re trying to find what feels like the solution and the way forward; how we can adapt this season.

“There was no clarity in that, although we did manage to have a really good pre-season of work and physical work with the group. We went to Portugal, we came back, Bristol was one of the first games back and the squad was coming together there.

“We did a bit of business late as well, so I felt relatively confident in the group. But from knowing this league last year and the discrepancy between the top of the league, the parachute teams, Leeds, Burnley and us, you could see a big gap.

“Did I envisage we would close this gap and get there? Absolutely, was not sure about that. We needed to do the work. So I think the players, they haven’t surprised me, but what they’ve done is be very together, very diligent and attentive in training to what we’re trying to do, and they’ve grown.

“So yeah, at Bristol Rovers I wouldn’t have called our position now, in all honesty. But it doesn’t matter to be top with 10 games to go. We need to try and be in and around that with zero games to go.”

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Every day, the CoventryLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Coventry City content.

Our dedicated reporter Andy Turner - who you can follow on X - follows the Sky Blues home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between.