Frank Lampard gave Coventry City a fantastic start to the season, but the Championship leaders were reeled back by promotion rivals Middlesbrough.
Frank Lampard and Coventry City reeled back to Middlesbrough in the promotion race (Image: Izzy Poles/AMA)
No one will win promotion from November’s championship. But then again, no team has ever held such a lead in second place as Coventry City, a third of the way through the season.
Frank Lampard’s side are seven points behind Middlesbrough heading into the top of the table clash with Teesside and Opta, giving them an astonishing 90 per cent chance of promotion after 16 games. However, after the dust settles from Saturday’s action, Coventry are now level with Boro on 58 points.
And there’s a group chasing them. Boro have regained a 10-point lead over Lampard’s side after losing the decisive clash at the end of November, but a deflated Hull City are now just five points behind third-placed Coventry. Ipswich are next on 51 points, followed by Millwall on 50 points, which is not an insurmountable difference.
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Since winning that close battle at the Riverside, Coventry suffered a 2-1 defeat at QPR, making them winless in seven away games. And the away Blues could mean the Sky Blues and Lampard lose out on Premier League qualification.
“What we have to do now is stay positive and look to the next game. We are in a difficult period, that’s obvious, we are in a difficult period and we are at the top of the league,” he said after the game.
“We know that gap is gone, so now it’s a race and we have to bounce back very quickly.”
Meanwhile, Boro are firing on all cylinders under Kim Helberg. They were red hot with a 1-0 win against a rejuvenated Norwich City side, making it their fifth straight win and continuing their best run of form since October 2023.
And on current form, Middlesbrough and Helberg will be eyeing the chance to overhaul Lampard and Coventry, who have brought the team to their knees so many times this season. They are still the top scorers in the division (only Hull with 48 points come close to Coventry’s 63 points) and there is no doubt they have the firepower to blow anyone away on their day.
Middlesbrough are flying under Kim Helberg (Image: George Wood)
But while they remain dignified at home, the chasing teams will reveal their vulnerability once Coventry leave the safety of the CBS Arena. And while Boro are riding high, the other teams in the top five will also be gunning for a top-two finish.
Many are hoping that Ipswich will shake off the memory of a poor start and return to form, while Hull and Millwall have also continued to perform well, defying pre-season expectations.
Middlesbrough and Coventry meet again in just over two weeks. This match will have huge implications not only for both teams in the race for promotion to the Championship, but also for those waiting to take advantage of the slip-up.
Having been the pacesetter for much of the season, Lampard and team may still find themselves in the chase.
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