Coventry City

Image source, Shutterstock

Coventry boss Frank Lampard was delighted with his Championship leaders' "professionalism" as they swept West Brom aside to win 2-0 at The Hawthorns and record their first league away win since November 25.

Coventry won through goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni and have stretched their lead at the top to three points in the race for the title.

Lampard told BBC CWR Radio: "The overall professionalism of the game pleased me, how we approached it, two fantastic goals of real quality in different ways. We were never really threatened by them.

"In the second half, we wanted to be a bit more compact, with a mid-block, and make it harder for them because we could feel a little bit of anxiety in the stadium. The players delivered all those messages, which you have to do to get a good away win and a good away performance like this.

"It was a great goal from Ephron. The ball was won back, the timing of it, his run through the backline, a great finish and he showed a real calmness. That gave us a good feeling, but we've lost some away games when we've gone a goal up, but we carried it on and then Rudi's goal was special.

"I'm delighted for him individually, how he's been training, how he's been playing. He's looked fitter and fresher and he's got a goal, which is of the highest level."

Coventry City have to keep their best players if they want to progress, says head coach Frank Lampard.

Defenders Milan van Ewijk, Jay Dasilva and Liam Kitching have all signed new undisclosed-length contracts with the Championship leaders, and Lampard believes it is a reward for their success so far this season.

"He's [van Ewijk] a very, very good player and a great player to work with from my point of view, as he's forever engaging with you, and I think there's more to come from him," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"Jay and Kitch have been mainstays of our performances this season. I'm happy when players feel they're improving, feel like they're enjoying coming to work and want to stay at the football club."

Coventry are one point clear of second-placed Middlesbrough and six points ahead of Millwall, who are third, as they seek a return to the Premier League after 25 years.

"If we want to improve, we have to try to keep players and improve [them] and keep working with them as much as adding them in, so it's great," added Lampard.

Coventry visit West Bromwich Albion in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

West Bromwich Albion enter this Midlands derby still seeking a first win under head coach Eric Ramsay.

Having been appointed on 12 January, the Baggies have lost four and drawn three of his seven games in charge, which leaves them only two points clear of the relegation zone.

Coventry returned to the top of the table with their first win in four games when beating second-placed Middlesbrough on Monday night.

• West Brom have lost their past two league games against Coventry, while they have not suffered three defeats in a row against them since August 1968 (a run of four).

• After winning this season's reverse fixture (3-2 in November), Coventry will be aiming to do the league double over West Brom for the first time since the 1969-70 campaign (in the top flight).

• West Brom have drawn their past two league matches 0-0 (v Stoke and Birmingham); they last played out three consecutive goalless draws in league competition in February-March 1983 (a run of four).

• Since the start of December, only West Brom (2) and Sheffield Wednesday (1) have won fewer points away from home in the Championship than league leaders Coventry (3 – W0 D3 L4).

• Haji Wright has scored five of Coventry's last eight league goals, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough last time out (3-1) – his second hat-trick in the Championship (also vs Sunderland in March 2025).

Image source, EFL

Puma's Rainbow ball will return to the English Football League as part of an on-going campaign against discrimination and homophobia.

The special edition rainbow ball was introduced in 2024 to mark LGBTQ+ History Month and will be used at every EFL game from 20 February until 1 March.

Manufacturers Puma will make a donation to Football v Homophobia for every goal scored with their rainbow ball across the Championship, League One and League Two.

The donations will help support education against homophobia and promote inclusion across the season.

The EFL have released a video, external to coincide with the campaign which features a Preston North End fan who was charged with a hate crime following homophobic chanting during an FA Cup fixture against Chelsea.

The rainbow ball will also feature in EFL partner EA Sports' FC 26 video game.

"The rainbow ball is a powerful symbol of the values we uphold across the EFL all season long," EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch said.

"It not only reflects our longstanding commitment to ensuring the League is representative of all its diverse communities, but also reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating an environment in which everyone feels they truly belong."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you what you thought about Coventry City's performance against Middlesbrough on Monday and whether the win had you feeling more upbeat about the title chase.

Spoiler alert, it has!

Here is what you had to say:

Alan: From the first minute to the last every player totally committed to each other and to achieving the win. Back to where we were in the autumn. Continue playing with that intensity and quality, promotion is guaranteed.

Luke: One match doesn't make a season. Frank Onyeka looked more like a toy soldier than a tank, not sure what everyone is raving on about. At the moment Doug King is still on course to look silly with his lack of transfer business.

Haji Wright turning up for the big games again but we probably won't see him again now until the play-offs when scrape through on the last day.

Stuart: Can we play Middlesbrough every week, please? Guaranteed promotion if that's the case!

In all seriousness though if Coventry display that level of energy, endeavour and enthusiasm every game then every chance of going up.

Boro have also been hugely impressive and again look well placed for promotion if the keep playing like they are.

Cat: We've had a really disappointing run of late and just weren't playing as we were before.

Last night, the whole team came out and gave it everything. From the first minute, we looked hungry and determined to get the win - Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is unbelievable and I'm delighted for Haji with his hat-trick. The belief is reignited, onto West Brom! PUSB.

Gary: Fantastic first half but if we continue to sit back and defend like the second half with the occasional hit and hope punt up field we will have problems. Where is the killer instinct that we had earlier in the season. No sitting back, just keep attacking.

Steve: Great result and performance last night. But I do think our automatic promotion hopes will depend on our away form. It just has to improve beginning with West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.

Coventry City forward Haji Wright got his second hat-trick for the club as his side beat Championship title rivals Middlesbrough 3-1 in a "statement" win on Monday.

"Feels great. Top of the table, three points, nothing better," Wright told BBC Radio CWR.

"I'm coming off a bit of a cold streak, so scoring three goals at the CBS [Arena] is a great feeling. I'm happy it turned into three points.

"It was a great performance from the team, from everybody in the stadium. It only felt like it could end one way."

The 27-year-old had only scored twice for Coventry since returning from a calf injury at the start of December, but netted three times to give his side a win which took them back to the top of the Championship.

"We played with a lot of energy and a lot of aggression. In the first 45 [minutes] it was hard for [Middlesbrough] to deal with. In the second 45 we played a bit more tactical and we were able to just defend the lead and counter a bit more," Wright said.

"Statement performance against a great team. But it is only three points and we still have so many more games until the end of the season, so we want to focus on the rest of the games that are ahead of us."

Coventry will travel to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (12:30 GMT) to try to extend their advantage over second-placed Middlesbrough, who take on Oxford United later in the day.

"We'll enjoy this tonight then, come tomorrow, we'll focus on West Brom," Wright concluded.

Listen to the full interview with Haji Wright and more Coventry City on BBC Sounds.

Coventry City's 3-1 win over fellow title contenders Middlesbrough on Monday means they are back on top of the Championship.

The Sky Blues had appeared to be on a downward turn after relinquishing a 10-point cushion from the reverse fixture in November.

After a few nervous weeks, are you feeling better about your title - and automatic promotion - chances, Coventry fans?

How would you rate your team's performance?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here and come back later to see a selection of your verdicts.

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard spoke to BBC CWR after their 3-1 win over Middlesbrough took them back to the top of the Championship.

"It was a big performance from minute one all the way through," he said.

"The energy of the team was immense, and the organisation.

"It's a really difficult game against Boro, they're in great form, they've got good players, they're trying to play through you constantly and our players gave everything and got what they deserved out of the game.

"In games like this where it's tight, two good teams going against each other, it's so important to be clinical in the right moments.

"It sounds simple but we haven't been so clinical in the last period and that leads to the results we've had.

"Tonight we were clinical and I think we deserved it."

Image source, Opta

Coventry City welcome Middlesbrough for a vital clash between the Championship's top two sides on Monday night (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

The Sky Blues have won just two of their past eight games - and only four of their previous 13 (D4 L5) - to see their 10-point lead wiped out by Boro, who are two points clear at the top.

Kim Hellberg's side are in excellent form and have scored 16 goals in a six-game winning run in the league.

• Coventry have won each of their past five league games against Middlesbrough, with each victory coming by at least a two-goal margin.

• Middlesbrough have lost six of their past seven away league games against Coventry (W1), losing each of their previous four visits without scoring a single goal.

• Since the start of December, Coventry have averaged just one goal a game in the Championship (13 goals in 13 games), having averaged 2.8 in their first 18 games this term (50 goals).

• Middlesbrough have won their past six league matches and could win seven in a row for the first time since May 1987 (7 in the third tier). They last had a longer winning streak in the second tier of English football in April 1974 (9).

• Coventry failed to score in their draw against Oxford last time out, despite attempting 24 shots and producing an xG total of 2.3. They have never failed to score in consecutive league games under Frank Lampard, last doing so in October 2023 (3 under Mark Robins).

Frank Onyeka says Coventry are gearing up for an intense top-of-the-table clash with Middlesbrough.

The 28-year-old midfielder - who joined on loan from Brentford until the end of the season at the end of the transfer window - was an unused sub in Saturday's home stalemate with Oxford United.

The point allowed Boro to take over at the summit for the first time since October with a 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Monday night.

The Sky Blues host the new leaders at the CBS Arena on Monday (20:00 GMT), aiming to depose them at the first opportunity and Onyeka told BBC CWR: "It's obviously a big game and whoever wins will be top.

"We will just focus on ourselves. We know it will be a very intense game so we are training well to make sure we are ready for the game."

The former Midtjylland man said he has enjoyed training with his new club and added his main attributes are "strength, winning duels, running with the ball and reading the game".

He joins Matt Grimes, Victor Torp and Josh Eccles in the central midfield ranks but said: "I think we are all different type of players. We bring different qualities to the team, for me it's just about settling in with the boys.

"I bring experience to the team and try to bring intensity."

He received a warm welcome from Sky Blues' fans during his warm-up for the Oxford match and said: "I appreciate the fans' welcome and I can't wait to give everything for the squad and the fans."

Coventry City could be boosted by the availability of three players for the vital Championship clash with Middlesbrough at the CBS Arena on Monday night.

Winger Ephron Mason-Clark missed the goalless draw against Oxford with a foot injury sustained at QPR, while January arrivals Jahnoah Markelo and Frank Onyeka are yet to make their debuts.

But Sky Blues manager Frank Lampard says they are all in contention to be available for the visit of league-leaders Boro.

"He [Mason-Clarke] started to do some work through this week, so we're hoping he will be training over the weekend," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"[Markelo is] training well, getting fit and looks good."

Midfielder Onyeka, who joined on loan from Brentford, was an unused sub last weekend and his wife has since given birth.

The 28-year-old Nigeria international has returned to training though and is in contention for Monday (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

"Yeah, he's ready to go," Lampard said. "Had a couple of days off, had the baby on Sunday, Monday. So he's training with us and ready.

"So it's good to have a little bit of training time for him before we start to look at games going forward."

Sports psychologist Peter Dutton has said he believes Frank Lampard's experience will help Coventry City overcome their poor run and that their slip from the top of the Championship might not be as bad as it seems.

The Sky Blues fell off the top of the table for the first time since October after a goalless draw against relegation-threatened Oxford United on Saturday - their third winless Championship game in a row (L2).

The side will have the opportunity to regain top spot when they host current league leaders Middlesbrough on Monday (20:00 GMT) - a game where state of mind may play a large part.

"It may take slight pressure off of them [no longer being league leaders]," Dutton told BBC Radio CWR.

"If you look at Middlesbrough, their confidence will be high. They are playing without the weight of defending a long lead like Coventry have been.

"Fortunately, Coventry have a very experienced manager - as a player and to an extent a manager - that can help them battle. It's more of a process than a position, it's more about consistency than them seeing it as a threat."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Listen to more Coventry City content on BBC Sounds

Millwall midfielder Massimo Luongo says Middlesbrough are the best team in the Championship this season.

Boro are two points clear of Coventry at the top - having wiped out the Sky Blues' 10-point lead - following their 2-1 win at Sheffield United on Monday night.

"Honestly… patterns, running, detail, everything is top," Luongo told BBC's Football Daily 72+ podcast.

"It's so good to watch. I put it on the other night and it was nice to watch. OK, you're full of confidence, you're top of the league but everything is sticking, they're running hard.

"You've got people overlapping, under-lapping, full-backs coming into the middle of the pitch. They are the best team I've seen this season."

Luongo described Boro's trip to Coventry on Monday as a "heavyweight" clash between the Championship's top two.

"Coventry rely on their goalscoring and they can, they can score goals," he added. "But I think Middlesbrough have a tougher chin."

Ex-Crystal Palace, Watford and Reading winger Jobi McAnuff also praised Boro boss Kim Hellberg for making his team "outstanding and really good to watch".

"Coventry have to be really careful because what has been the big problem for them of late is too much space in behind," he said.

You can follow live text coverage of Coventry v Middlesbrough on the BBC Sport website on Monday, 16 February (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Rob Gurney
BBC CWR commentator

Middlesbrough going top is a big concern for everybody at the moment because of the way that the two teams have played recently.

Boro have now won six on the trot - a very impressive performance away to Sheffield United, particularly in the first half where their counter-attacking was brilliant.

And the Sky Blues, as we know, have struggled to win games recently. They have won four matches at home in December and January.

This is a huge fixture now on Monday - in the context of the season, just for the Sky Blues really to show they have still got some confidence and belief despite the run of results in the last couple of months.

Since the end of November, it's not been a great watch in terms of some of the performances and the results they've managed to grind out.

A couple of 1-0 wins at home - one before and one after Christmas against Bristol City and Swansea - and then a couple of wins in January against Leicester and Millwall both 2-1.

Everybody needs to bring their A-game on Monday now to overhaul Middlesbrough and go back to the top of the table.

I'm talking players, Frank Lampard, coaching staff, fans as well to make sure that the players know that the supporters still believe that something special can be created this season.

And that's how you achieve things in any sport really. Football particularly is for people to stay united and pulling in the same direction, so hopefully that will be the case on Monday and the balance can be redressed.

Psychologically, that would be a huge achievement, particularly bearing in mind the way the Sky Blues have played in the last six to eight weeks.

They need to reset the season in many respects by putting up a good performance against Middlesbrough and taking all three points.

Rob Gurney was talking to BBC CWR's Will Oelrich. You can listen to their full analysis on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Scunthorpe United have signed Coventry City forward Aidan Dausch on loan until the end of the season.

The forward made his first appearance for the National League side as a second-half substitute in their 1-0 win over Southend United on Saturday.

The 19-year-old had been recalled by the Sky Blues from a season-long loan at Forest Green Rovers where he scored once in 11 appearances.

Dausch joined Coventry at the age of 16 and has made two Championship appearances from the bench for the Championship club.

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has said that the scoreless draw at home to Oxford United was a "frustrating result".

Despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men late on, the Sky Blues were unable to take advantage as their winless run in the Championship extends to three matches.

"It's a frustrating result but the lads did everything," Lampard told BBC Radio CWR.

"There's lots of positives in the performance though, we dominated every part of it really and didn't give anything away other than maybe one counter-attack in the first half, other than that it was all us, the ball wasn't going in the net though.

"We were very good up to the last bit, it's not easy against a dogged team that set up in a low block.

"We tried a lot and we created enough to win the game but it didn't happen for us."

Coventry next face second placed Middlesbrough who could be above them by the time they meet on 16 February.

Carl Rushworth hopes to make his Premier League ambitions come true, and would love for it to be with Coventry City.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been with Brighton since 2019 but has never played a first-team game for the Seagulls.

However, he is closing in on 200 career appearances after spells on loan with Worthing, Walsall, Lincoln, Swansea, Hull and now the Sky Blues, for whom he has kept nine clean sheets in 29 league appearances.

Rushworth told BBC CWR: "It's been better than I expected. I have always known we'd be successful, but to this level, I didn't know."

Amid speculation about his future, the one-time England Under-21 international added: "I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and playing for England would be the cherry on top.

"If we make history and are in the Premier League next season, if the option was there I'd 100% love to be here - I love everything about the club."

Rushworth's last clean sheet came on Boxing Day, having conceded in eight games in all competitions since then as the Sky Blues' 10-point lead at the top was wiped out with a run of 15 points from a dozen league games.

Rushworth said: "Nothing really changes in terms of mentality. We know how difficult this league is and we have to take each game as it comes.

"The final 16 games are 'cup finals'. Everybody is on the same page, everybody knows what we want to achieve together as a group.

"We know we've been in a difficult spell but the togetherness is just as high as it was when we were on a streak of winning games.

"I'm not concerned. I think we just need to get back to playing freely how we were, get a bit of confidence back.

"We're top of the league, we have nine clean sheets, we're going through a tough spell but we've put ourselves in a really good position.

"We're hoping to go on another run and finish the season strong."