Coventry City

Rob Gurney
Sports editor, BBC CWR

Image source, Rex Features

I don't like saying "I told you so" about anything, but in Jack Rudoni's case, I'll make an exception – "I told you so!"

Regular consumers of our content on BBC CWR will know I was advocating g him long before the Sky Blues got the then 22-year-old to put pen to paper last June.

I'd seen enough on several occasions, watching him play for Huddersfield, against both West Bromwich Albion and Coventry, to know he would fit right in at the CBS Arena.

I must it, though, I'd begun to doubt myself, after a slow start to his City career, but now the traditional tortoise-like beginning to a campaign has given way to something more akin to the hare in full cry, although clearly us fans hope our story this season doesn't finish with the hare being overtaken at the last.

Anyway, enough of the animal analogies. Rudoni's numbers are very impressive.

In his 34 appearances, he's had 20 attempts on target, made 52 key es, executed 26 dribbles, and most importantly, scored four goals (a tally that, ittedly, could be improved upon), while contributing 10 assists, from corners, free-kicks and open play.

Some fans have made the comparison with Callum O'Hare, and for me, it was all about end product with him. That aspect of his game improved towards the end of his Coventry career, but in my humble opinion, Rudoni is an upgrade.

Hopefully, the consistency he and his team-mates have discovered can continue; let's face it, when they're all fit and firing, a midfield of Matt Grimes, Ben Sheaf and Jack Rudoni is insane at Championship level, isn't it?

Coventry City midfielder Jack Rudoni says he is "buzzing" to have Ephron Mason-Clark back in the side.

Rudoni, who opened the scoring in Saturday's win against Preston, last scored against Hull City in December, also by heading in a Mason-Clark cross.

"I haven't had one for a while so I'm glad to get back on the scoresheet, I seem to like a header," Rudoni told BBC Radio CWR.

"When the ball goes wide to types like Ephron on the left, I know quality is going to be put in the box so I get myself into the areas. The gaffer literally said to me before we went out 'get yourself into the box' and that's what I've done."

The game marked the return of Mason-Clark to the starting XI, after he missed eight games with a hamstring strain before returning from the bench in their 1-0 win over QPR in February.

"You know what Ephron brings; quality, pace, power," Rudoni added.

"Me and him have a good connection on and off the pitch so I'm buzzing to have him back out there."

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard said his side's 2-1 home win over bogey side Preston North End was one of the Sky Blues' best since he took charge - both for the football his side had played and the ending of a hoodoo lasting almost two decades.

The Sky Blues, who have still have never won a league game at Deepdale in 23 visits dating back to 1949, have also long since struggled at home against North End.

Iain Dowie was the Sky Blues boss the last time City beat North End in front of their own fans in September 2007 - just two years after moving into the Arena as their new home.

"It's nice to lay a few ghosts to rest," Lampard told BBC CWR. "It's a nice feeling for the fans when you've had something like that over you. I was aware of it.

"But we're on a good run. You get a good feeling in the stadium that the fans are really buying into it. And we have to continue to build on this.

"Performance-wise I'd say it's one of the best, although the scoreline probably doesn't quite reflect that. It should have been three or four by the time they scored to give us a difficult last 10 minutes.

"We'd dominated them. They hardly threatened us all afternoon, then they get a goal and suddenly we're nervous. It was uncomfortable in the stadium and it didn't need to be.

"Now we have almost everybody fit, we have different ways of getting goals."

Following the return of skipper Ben Sheaf and goal creator Ephron Mason-Clark, only US international striker Haji Wright is yet to return. And, with a free week now until they host Oxford United, Lampard is yet to declare as to whether that might be a good comeback date.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has been speaking to BBC CWR before the clash with Preston North End on Saturday. Here are the key takeaways from his press conference:

• t-top goalscorer Haji Wright is close to a return from an ankle injury which has kept him out since November.

• "He's certainly turned his corner and is training with us," Lampard said. "Now it's about getting his match fitness up ready to be able to contribute on the pitch because I know the important player he is. I haven't seen him for us, but I know what he is - he's very close now. He's a contender for the squad. I'll make that call today off the back of training and how he feels, whether it's this week or next week."

• Captain Ben Sheaf could also be available again this weekend after missing nine games with a calf injury. Lampard said: "He's probably a little bit ahead of Haji, purely because of less time out, in of match fitness. He could be in the squad this week - certainly next week."

• On Coventry having momentum after six wins from their past seven games, he said: "At the moment we're getting good results but there's a long way to go, so I think momentum is a great word when you're in it but it's a dangerous word to get complacent about. We're in a good place but we need to continue with it, which comes from work and focus as a group."

• On Preston, Lampard added: "I think it's a really difficult match for us, to not be underestimated. Aggressive team, man-to-man marking at times and high pressure. Physical team, very difficult to play against for different reasons, so I'm considering nothing about momentum and all these things, I'm considering Preston and I think it's a really hard game."

Coventry picked up their sixth win in seven Championship games last time out against Sheffield Wednesday after Ellis Simms' stoppage-time winner. A win that proved significant against a fellow play-off chaser as they are just now a point behind the top six.

Preston earned a 1-1 draw against Millwall in the their last outing missing the chance to put them four points off the play-off places in the Championship table.

Lilywhites boss Paul Heckingbottom completed the second of his two-match touchline ban following his red card in the win at Watford in January, meaning he will be back on the bench at the CBS Arena.

• Coventry City have failed to win any of their last 22 league games against Preston North End (D8 L14), keeping just two clean sheets in that time since a 2-1 win in September 2007.

• Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Preston North End have beaten Coventry City nine times in 11 attempts – their most t-league wins against any side in that time.

• Since Frank Lampard's first Championship game in charge of Coventry, only Leeds (37), Burnley (32) and Sheffield United (32) have won more points in the division than the Sky Blues (30 – W9 D3 L4)

• Preston have won two of their last three away league games (L1), more than they managed in their previous 18 combined (W1 D7 L10).

• Coventry's Jack Rudoni has 10 Championship assists this season, the most by a Sky Blues player in a league season since 2022-23 when both Gus Hamer and Viktor Gyökeres assisted 10. His assists have won Coventry 14 points, the most of any Championship player this season.

Adam Cottier
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Sheffield Wednesday shot count was high, but so too were the levels of tenacity and resilience summoned by Coventry as they won for the sixth time in seven Championship games.

Reviews of the goal that won the game in added time will highlight the misjudgement of Wednesday's England Under-21 goalkeeper James Beadle, but what about the presence of mind from Ellis Simms to chase down the most hopeful of hopeful long punts?

Even though Coventry spent large parts of Saturday's game defending their box - and defending it well - Simms was always lurking on the periphery, a source of hope for Sky Blues fans who must have feared the worst when Wednesday equalised.

It's perhaps no coincidence that all but one of Simms' goals have come away from home this season.

He's possibly the kind of striker required in an away game: few touches, but alive when opportunity knocks. He wasn't settling for a draw. He certainly wasn't going to miss the chance presented to him by Beadle.

Simms summed up Coventry's tenacious edge in a game where the balance of play was not in their favour. A super header in the first half had put his side ahead. He was unlucky to have another disallowed, but Coventry were grateful he showed the desire to chase down that late punt.

If Coventry are to make the play-offs, such industry from players like Simms will be needed.

Coventry City bagged themselves an added-time win against Sheffield Wednesday when Owls keeper James Beadle made a costly error to gift striker Ellis Simms a second goal.

The dramatic late winner saw the Sky Blues rise to seventh in the table, within a point of the play-off positions.

After the match, Simms said it was his determination to play to the end that gave his side a maximum three points.

"In football, you've got to play until the final whistle," Simms told BBC Radio Coventry.

"I looked at the time so I knew the game was done basically. I saw the ball in the air so I just thought, 'sprint, the game is done'.

"I chase it down and next minute, the keeper's dropped it and I just slot it home. It was a great feeling."

His brace against the Owls also saw Simms' tally rise to to seven across all competitions, making him Coventry's t-top scorer this season alongside Haji Wright.

"As of late, I've maybe not scored as many as I would have liked," Simms said.

"It was a nice moment to celebrate with the fans. The whole away end - they filled it out, they travel wherever we go. A great moment for the club."

You can listen to the full interview and more on the Sky Blues fancast.

Rob Gurney
Sports editor, BBC CWR

Image source, Rex Features

Three more points against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Two Ellis Simms goals. One point off the Championship play-off places. And Coventry City didn't even have to use their latest g.

Jamie Paterson ed on a contract until the end of the season and Friday's late arrival was absolutely a no brainer for me. He has experience, versatility, and he is someone who knows what it's like to be a Sky Blues fan.

Born in the city, brought up in Henley Green, it's taken many years for player and club to finally cross paths, although he's been no stranger to scoring against City during his career.

He has ed five goals and two assists in appearances for Walsall, Bristol City and Swansea City, but now he gets the opportunity to finally pull on a Sky Blue shirt, having been a season-ticket holder at the old Highfield Road between the ages of nine and 15.

Of course, Paterson can play wide, where he cut his teeth or, as the years have gone by, in a more central midfield position.

For Frank Lampard, that variation can be an important factor as the head coach looks to change things up during a game, because that's where the 33-year-old can be most effective, in my opinion, coming off the bench to influence the team's performance in a positive way.

Now Ben Sheaf, Haji Wright and Ephron Mason-Clark are returning to full fitness, alongside Matt Grimes, who's getting to grips with pulling the threads together in City's midfield, Lampard almost has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.

Not a bad position to be in, though, with 13 matches left in the regular season, and the play-off places now just that one single point away.

Image source, Rex Features

Frank Lampard heaped praise on in-form striker Ellis Simms after his two goals earned Coventry City a vital win in their push for the play-offs at Sheffield Wednesday.

Simms struck in each half, his second goal being a stoppage-time winner, to take his recent tally to four goals in his past six games.

Sky Blues manager Lampard told BBC CWR: "Ellis deserves all the plaudits. The progression of Ellis since I've been in, working on his game, his attitude, he is a really low maintenance lad but he is getting extra out of his game which is brilliant to see."

"If you're going to progress in this league you do need people to be scoring goals at the top end of the pitch. It sounds obvious but it's true.

"We have got options up there but Ellis, the way he is working, is a credit and then, because of his attributes, because we know what he can do, it's about maximising them and really pleased for him. He deserves it today."

Simms put Coventry ahead with a well-placed header in the 16th minute before capitalising on a mistake from Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper James Beadle to make it 2-1 in the 92nd minute.

Lampard said: "It's a great goal his first goal. The second goal people will reference a mistake from their goalkeeper, but if Ellis doesn't chase, put him under pressure, get the finish away afterwards then we don't score the winner, so I'm really pleased with the players finding a way to win today in a really tough match."

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City must take full advantage of their good form, says head coach Frank Lampard.

The Sky Blues have won five of their past six Championship matches to move within three points of the play-off places and one of this weekend's opponents, Sheffield Wednesday.

"You must feed off it [momentum] because it is a thing, and there will be moments where you're not in that period," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"But it's also good to keep a check on that and realise we are going to a team who are above us in the league for a reason, so we have to go clean slate again, the good things we are doing, but also the things we can improve on."

Coventry are up to a season-high 10th place in the Championship table, and Lampard believes it is a reflection of their improvement.

"The table is normally a reality after this many games in the season, but we have to understand when people get excited about the play-offs, then you take a breath and look at the table and realise so many teams are all around us - when you look at the fixture list, nothing is easy."

Lampard has also been boosted by the return to training of leading scorer Haji Wright, who is yet to feature under the former Chelsea boss because of an ankle injury that has kept him out since early November.

"It's early days, so don't get excited, but he's back on the pitch with us, taking part in training but coming out of parts of training to get fitness.

"It's important we get him right and ready and firing to come back in, so it's great to have him back in the mix."

Hillsborough hosts a game with big play-off implications as Sheffield Wednesday welcome Coventry on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Owls lie 8th, two points outside the top six, but with the Sky Blues just one point, and two places behind them.

• After beating Coventry City 2-1 in October, Sheffield Wednesday are looking to win successive league games against the Sky Blues for the first time since October 2005.

• Coventry have won on two of their past four league trips to Sheffield Wednesday (L2), and could record successive wins for the first time since September 1988.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their past five home league games (W2 D3); they last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run at Hillsborough in the second tier in December 2019 (8 games).

• Coventry could win three successive away league games for the first time since January 2024, while they last recorded three consecutive league clean sheets on the road in March 2023.

• Coventry's Ellis Simms has been involved in three goals in his last two away league games (2 goals, 1 assist) and could score in three successive away Championship games for the first time.

Image source, Rex Features

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard feels they deserved their late 1-0 win over QPR on Tuesday night purely because of the tough schedule of games they have had.

Bobby Thomas' injury-time header means the Sky Blues are now just one point outside the Championship's play-off places.

Coventry had lost to the leaders Leeds last Wednesday before going out of the FA Cup at home to Ipswich on Saturday.

"It was a great feeling for everybody in the stadium - it was a tough night and looked like it was going to be 0-0," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"It's been a challenging week with the tough games we've had but we kept going and we got a win I think we deserved, not necessarily on the play because it was a close enough game.

"But in of the week we've been through it would have been easy to lose momentum tonight but we've been able to keep hold of it to a degree with the late winner."

Coventry visit Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Saturday 15 February.

Coventry City welcome QPR on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT) with both sides four points off the Championship play-off spots and looking to keep within touching distance.

The Sky Blues were knocked out of the FA Cup by Ipswich at the weekend and had suffered only their second league loss in nine games (W5 D2) at home to Leeds last week.

QPR bounced back from two straight defeats to beat Blackburn in their most recent game, meaning they have won six of their previous eight.

• Coventry City have won three of their past five league games against QPR (D1 L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• QPR are looking to win consecutive league visits to Coventry for the first time since winning three in a row between 1992 and 1995.

• Coventry's four consecutive league wins were halted by a 2-0 loss to Leeds United last time out. The Sky Blues haven't lost back-to-back Championship games since October under Mark Robins.

• Since the start of December, only Leeds United (9) have won more Championship games than Queens Park Rangers (8), with the Hoops picking up 63% of their points for the season across those 13 games (26/41 – W8 D2 L3).

• Ilias Chair has five assists in his past 10 Championship appearances for QPR, only one fewer than in his previous 46 combined (6). He also scored in a 2-1 away victory over Coventry on the final day of last season.