It may have been just three points like any other, but in the context of this season it was a massive win for Coventry City and Frank Lampard.
A dip in results, falling from the top of the table from a position that once seemed almost unassailable, and up against the in-form Championship side at Middlesbrough – the six-match winning side who sit above them in the league.
“Any question marks over Coventry’s character have been answered emphatically tonight,” said Sky Sports’ Andy Hinchcliffe.
It felt so big. Regarding the performance as well as the result. Diligence in defense and a clinical edge in attack. A 3-1 win after a reckless hat-trick from Haji Wright.
Lampard is always keen to stay grounded. Even when Coventry were running clear at the top of the league he would never get carried away.
But you could see in his eyes after the game that he knew how big this was.
“It’s a great performance from the boys,” he said Sky Sports. “Middlesbrough are a good team and that’s why they’ve done what they’ve done recently.
“It was a real team performance. The effort, the tactical discipline, the way we played off the ball, it was something we worked on all week. I felt it was important to get that back into our game.
“In the first half we wanted to press very high and be aggressive and the guys followed that plan brilliantly. In the second half I felt our energy would stay strong so we went into a more compact shape and gave them problems from there. I’m really happy about that.
“There’s been a bit of nervous energy around the club lately because we haven’t been in this position for a long time. Maybe that’s normal. Maybe we needed a little check. When we play here on CBS, the fans are a massive weapon for us. They were so loud tonight, fantastic
“But as long as we respond like that, with that energy and output, that’s what matters. I’m happy for the boys.”
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Haji Wright completed his hat-trick for Coventry City from the penalty spot
However, Lampard acknowledged that it was only one win. There are 14 games still to be played and two away trips coming up next – where Coventry have been poor. The performance against Middlesbrough could well provide the new blueprint for going on the road.
“We cannot celebrate too much,” he added. “It’s the championship. If we blow the next game, it doesn’t mean much. That was the message afterwards.
“The defensive structure tonight is a template for what it takes to win games in this league. Every team gives you different problems. Going away from home now, we have to get it right.
“It was important, and now we have to build on it. I felt something different in training this week, a little more edge, more tension. I like that. The players put their foot in, training had intensity. Through a heavy round of matches, that edge maybe dropped a little, but we found it again this week.
“The key now is to carry it into the league consistently. We respect the opposition but we have to use this performance as a platform.
“Our away form and adapting to different styles has been challenging. Some teams are physical and direct, you have to deal with second balls and crosses in the box.
“We’ve looked at ourselves recently and said we haven’t been good enough in certain games, and I hadn’t said that for a long time about this group. So when the next game comes quickly, like West Brom, we can’t ride this wave for too long.
“We take confidence from tonight, the energy, the output, the diligence. That’s what allows attacking players to shine. The hard work underpins everything.”
Boyd: A mature Coventry performance
Sky Sports’ Chris Boyd:
“Open [Lampard] mentioned it, they changed practice this week because they knew [Middlesbrough’s attack] was on its way.
“There’s no doubt Middlesbrough’s attack has caused a lot of problems for a lot of teams in this division. They’ve had to change and it’s worked.
“Wright also gets the three goals, he [Lampard] can now say, ‘if we do it properly, we still create chances and score goals’.
“It was a really mature performance from Coventry.”
‘It was like watching Coventry from earlier in the season’
Sky Sports’ Joby McAnuff:
“There was so much at stake for Coventry. You felt before the game that it was bigger for them than Boro, just in terms of getting some positivity back.
“We can feel it here in the stadium. The crowd went with their team and played a big part. The team was brave, their press was so important and it continued for 90 minutes.
“It’s a Coventry team that we saw earlier in the season tonight.”