Championship speaking factors: Frank Lampard’s Coventry are promotion contenders; Jaden Philogene delivers warning

Lampard’s ruthless Coventry go high – they’re real promotion contenders

Prime of the league and the one membership left nonetheless unbeaten within the nation this season, Frank Lampard is remaining robust to please at Coventry Metropolis.

They have been 3-0 up at half-time at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, on their approach to a 5-0 victory. However he nonetheless believed there have been enhancements to be made.

“Professionally, the early goal helped, but it made us a bit sloppy through the first half, in my opinion,” he mentioned after the sport. “We weren’t quite at our usual selves off the ball. Little bits that we had to talk about at half-time.”

It’s a week main into the worldwide break that has seen them win 3-0, 4-0 and 5-0. They’ve scored 27 targets at a time when no different Championship aspect has notched greater than 15.

“It’s a period where we’re playing well. All the work that we do is coming together,” Lampard continued. “It will not all the time be that approach, however at this level, yeah, we’re very scientific in entrance of purpose.

“We’re creating a lot of chances and four clean sheets is obviously great for us because the early games, we were conceding a lot.”

Ruthless in assault and tight on the again. Coventry have emerged as undoubted contenders for computerized promotion this season.
Simeon Gholam

How lengthy will ‘actuality’ be acceptable at Birmingham?

“My expectation is reality, I know how hard the Championship is. Anyone who thought this would be a stroll in the park is deluded.”

These have been the phrases of Chris Davies after full-time on Friday evening, after Birmingham Metropolis fought again to assert a draw at Wrexham.

Endurance, nonetheless, isn’t a advantage in soccer. Particularly not within the Championship with a membership as aspirational because the Blues. It is only one win in six heading into the worldwide break.

Tom Wagner, the membership proprietor, was in attendance on the Racecourse on Friday evening – in with the away followers actually – and spoke to Sky Sports activities forward of kick-off.

“Chris has the complete and total confidence of the board, period, full stop,” he mentioned. Earlier than later including: “The goal is to play highly competitive football. I see no excuse for a club that has the capacity to spend as we do not performing well.”

Make of that what you’ll.
Simeon Gholam

Ipswich star Philogene delivers warning to Championship

“We’re on an upward curve but we have a lot more to work on, once we get going it could be game over.” These have been the phrases of Jaden Philogene after his beautiful long-range purpose helped Ipswich to a primary victory in 16 years over their rivals Norwich.

Ipswich have made a sluggish begin of their try to make a direct return to the Premier League, however there are indicators now that they’re beginning to transfer via the gears.

Three wins of their final 4 have lifted Ipswich as much as ninth and they’re simply three factors behind third-placed Leicester.

Kieran McKenna’s squad have power in depth to go the space. It confirmed towards Norwich in how they made six adjustments from their draw towards Bristol Metropolis earlier than the triple substitution he made halfway via the second half powered them over the road.

“Performance-wise, our execution was mixed,” mentioned McKenna. “I really liked our intent, we got from the middle of League One to the Premier League for being brave and we came into the game with that intent.”
David Richardson

Wilder return falling flat for Sheffield United

Any hopes that Chris Wilder’s return to Sheffield United would instantly impressed a resurgence have been largely quelled.

They did choose up their first factors of the season final weekend, however two defeats have since adopted, which means the Blades have collected simply three factors from a doable 12 because the begin of his third stint in cost. They continue to be backside of the desk.

On Saturday they need to have picked up a minimum of a degree at Hull Metropolis, however have been denied by Ivor Pandur’s late penalty save from Harrison Burrows.

“We got into so many positions, and we have to find that moment of quality to win the game,” mentioned Wilder. “When we get into those positions, we have to put teams to bed.

“We want persistence, we’d like time to work, however gamers have gotten to present their heads a shake. At instances gamers have gotten to seek out these solutions.

“When we had an opportunity of finding that last little bit we never found it. We’ve not come up with that little bit.

“I feel it is a person mentality to be calm. It appears to be like like earlier performances have affected these gamers who can produce these massive moments.”

There is work to do for Wilder during the international break.
Simeon Gholam

Small celebrates against old club as Preston continue fine start – are they dark horses for play-offs?

Thierry Small’s goal against his former club, which he would celebrate after firing Preston ahead, did not arrive until the 67th minute.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side took some time to settle into this fixture but once they held the lead, there was no looking back. Daniel Jebbison’s goal with 10 minutes to go merely calmed the nerves.

After finishing in 20th last season, Preston are looking to flip the table on its head this time round. With 16 points from nine games, they have bolted out from the gates and solidified themselves as dark horses for promotion this term.

“We have no proper in any way to be beating anybody,” their boss said after the game.

“We have to earn it and everybody’s obtained to return and switch up and assist us recover from the road.”

With that angle, don’t be shocked to see them scrapping away within the high six come the tip of the season.
Patrick Rowe

Turning level for Millwall as West Brom fail in entrance of purpose

Having received simply as soon as in six earlier than the go to of West Brom and being thumped 4-0 by Coventry at dwelling midweek, Alex Neil requested for a response from his Millwall aspect. He obtained one.

This was every little thing you’d anticipate from a Millwall workforce taking part in at dwelling; agressive, entrance footed and decided to win.

They took their probabilities, they restricted West Brom to only the one shot on course and Femi Azeez lit up the Den with a bit of magic within the second half.

It seems like a defining second within the season for Millwall. Shedding three of their final 4 with simply the one purpose scored is proof they will rating targets, be tight defensively and are a workforce that may function and compete within the high half of the desk.

Ending simply exterior the play-offs final season, the expectation would have been for Neil to emulate that, and even higher it, and that is the kind of efficiency that may give encouragement that these ambitions are correct.

As for Ryan Mason, extra head scratching about the place it went fallacious. They dominated the ball however had no menace in entrance of purpose and having watched them a few instances this season it seems like the massive query stays, who will get the West Brom targets?

West Brom are clearly very effectively coached, they play some great things – however except they discover some targets they’re going to stay within the second tier for an additional season.
Mark McAdam

Key stats from the weekend

• Millwall defender Jake Cooper has now scored in every of the final 9 Championship seasons, netting 27 targets in whole – 5 greater than another defender throughout this era.
• Watford’s Jeremy Ngakia scored two targets inside the area of three minutes and 35 seconds, this after netting only one purpose in his first 88 appearances within the Championship.
• Coventry Metropolis have scored 27 targets within the Championship this season after 9 matches. That is their second-most at this stage of a league marketing campaign of their historical past solely behind 1935/96 – 28 targets after 9 matches.
• Sheffield United have misplaced eight of their first 9 Championship matches this season (W1), their joint-most defeats at this stage of a league marketing campaign of their historical past and their outright most at this stage of a marketing campaign exterior the highest flight.

Championship weekend outcomes

Friday

Saturday

Sunday