Frank Lampard admits what Coventry City ‘lacked’ in goalless draw vs Leicester City

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Coventry City saw out a goalless stalemate in the derby at Leicester City, as the Sky Blues struggled to get among the goals.

In an evenly contested M69 derby clash, Coventry City drew 0-0 at Leicester City thanks to some heroics from Sky Blues goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

Leicester’s unbeaten home run against Coventry continued on Saturday afternoon, as both sides spurned chances to score.

Foxes forward Stephy Mavididi had a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock, but Rushworth made a resolute save from close range to preserve the clean sheet.

After full-time, Lampard reflected on the stalemate and explained that a key element of the Sky Blues’ play so far this season was missing at the King Power Stadium.

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Frank Lampard thinks Coventry City lacked ‘quality’ in attack vs Leicester City

Coventry have been the most potent in front of goal so far in the Championship campaign, with Lampard’s side scoring 15 goals in five games before the Foxes clash.

The Leicester and Coventry clash was predicted to have goals for both sides, but unfortunately for Lampard and Marti Cifuentes, neither side was prolific enough to secure the three points.

Following full-time, Lampard told Coventry’s media that his Sky Blues side lacked the “quality and sharpness” that has seen them start the season in such staggering form in front of goal.

Lampard said: “I’m pretty happy. You’ve got to respect the opposition. They’re a good team.

“I think it may be the best they’ve played. I’ve watched them and it’s not disrespecting.

“They’ve got good players, good individuals, and I think they knew we were a good team at this point.

“We started the game really well. They finished the first half well , and then the second half was a bit more wavy, a bit more open at points.

“But to get a clean sheet here, if you’re not going to win a game… we lacked a little bit of quality and sharpness from what we’ve been showing.

“Especially on transitions, we’ve been really good on that. And we were just a little bit off it today, and I think that affected our goal threat.

“If you’re going to have one of those days, it’s very normal, then you have to make sure you defend well and be a team.

“The way we wrestled back the last 10 minutes, we had a lot of ball and we felt pretty secure, secure as you can be at 0-0. So there are a lot of things I’m happy with.”

As Lampard explained, Coventry were not at their best in the attacking sense, but defended well as a unit as Rushworth stole the show for his performance that won lofty praise from Lampard.

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Frank Lampard praises Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth after draw vs Leicester City

Rushworth enjoyed his best afternoon since joining the Sky Blues on loan from Brighton in the summer transfer window.

As the Foxes hunted for the deadlock-breaker, Rushworth remained resolute between the Coventry sticks, going on to make nine saves throughout to keep the scores level.

His nine saves saw Rushworth become second in the list of most saves made in a game so far this Championship season, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Pierce Charles top on 11 saves from their defeat to the Foxes last month.

Man-of-the-match Rushworth more than earned his clean sheet – his second since arriving at Coventry – and Lampard admitted that he was “outstanding” against Leicester.

“I thought he was outstanding today.”, Lampard said of Rushworth’s performance.

“He’s a really good goalkeeper. I’m so pleased I never was one because it’s such a difficult one.

“Every part of his game was spot on today. Some of the shots that were bouncing in front of him, the saves that he did have to make, he made.

“That’s why you want top goalkeepers in your team for days up to day where you rely on them a little bit.

“But when he was needed, it was absolutely a very good personal performance.

“I’m really pleased for him to do that, and it helps the team because it keeps that clean sheet.”

Coventry’s draw extended their unbeaten run, and Lampard’s side remain one of just three second tier sides yet to suffer defeat this season, alongside in-form Bristol City and league leaders Middlesbrough.