Frank Lampard could repeat Chelsea masterstroke with Coventry City change against Luton Town

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Frank Lampard and Coventry City need a response to losing 3-1 against Plymouth Argyle when they face Luton Town on Saturday lunchtime.

Lampard has broken records this season, with Cov fans ‘apologising’ for how well he’s done in recent months. His good work hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Lampard in the frame for the Southampton vacancy.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	44	27	7	10	60	35	25	86
4	SunderlandSunderland	44	21	13	10	58	41	17	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	44	17	16	11	57	49	8	67
6	CoventryCoventry	44	19	9	16	62	57	5	66
7	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	44	18	9	17	64	54	10	63
8	MillwallMillwall	44	17	12	15	45	46	-1	63
9	BlackburnBlackburn	44	18	8	18	50	46	4	62

They require only a few more points to secure a play-off berth alongside Bristol City, but defeat to Plymouth was a blow to their hopes of ensuring a place in the semi-finals against Sheffield United or Sunderland.

Frank Lampard may have done a remarkable job since replacing Mark Robins, vindicating Doug King’s decision in the process. But, somewhat worryingly, he has seen his Coventry side lose four of the last eight at the business end of the season.

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Frank Lampard’s Luton Town striker problem for Coventry City

His experiences with Chelsea shaped him as a manager and he may need to lean on one element of those times in order to match up to Luton Town and beat them. In an article from January 2021, Lampard described his game plan against them in a 3-1 FA Cup win in the Metro.

He said: “We searched for something today and I think we pretty much got it”. He was then asked whether he was tempted to continue with two strikers against Wolves the game after. Lampard replied: “We’ll see but it’s not just as simple as that.

“With the two strikers, you have to get that part right and you want to give a threat but you have to make sure your game changes.

“You force teams wide when you’re pressing, your midfield do not vacate midfield, if we play three then you have a No.6 holding — sometimes it gives you license. If you play two, there’s not a license.

“That’s why I was impressed with Mason [Mount] and Billy [Gilmour] today because their general discipline as well as their quality was good. I thought actually [Mateo] Kovacic and Mason did some good things against Leicester in a tough match.

“So, two strikers, you can’t just move your eye to those. You have to look at the team and how it impacts it so it’s step-by-step. Luton is a good game to do it, no disrespect to them, but it’s something I will certainly think about going forward.”

Opta still make Coventry favourites to secure their place, but it is not guaranteed given that they face Middlesbrough on the final day of the season. A win over Luton would go some way to helping them secure their place.

Ordinarily Haji Wright or Ellis Simms plays up top. However, if both start, then Wright plays out on the left. A tweak in shape could mean the versatile Jack Rudoni drops into a deeper box-to-box role or operates as a winger or wing-back.

He is capable and Luton’s two-striker system is often deployed. If it is, matching them up physically would be a good solution to fighting fire with fire, especially after Cov needing a response to losing to Plymouth.

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Frank Lampard’s Coventry City record

Since his arrival, Coventry’s climb up the table has been rapid. They have made their ascent into the top six and intend to stay there. How impressive the job he’s done is illustrated by the form table from November 28.

A win over Luton is a non-negotiable to make the Middlesbrough game less pressured. Should they fail to do that and Boro win, then it will make for a nervy ending between the two ex-England teammates.

Michael Carrick and Lampard will do battle on final day no matter what, but a win over Luton could have it all wrapped up before then. Simms and Wright as a duo could be the answer to that.