Frank Lampard fumes at ‘substandard’ refereeing performance in Luton Town 1-0 Coventry City, not seen ‘any level of football’ like it

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The 1-0 between Luton Town and Coventry City could have huge repercussions at both ends of the Championship table.

The Sky Blues may require a win on final day against Middlesbrough to ensure their place, unless results go their way in the Championship this afternoon after Shandon Baptiste’s late winner.

Frank Lampard came up against a manger once linked to the Coventry City job, and he was unable to complete the league double over them.

Lampard’s gameplan went out of the window early on after Jay Dasilva’s red card after 13 minutes. It was a backs against the wall performance from his side until Liam Walsh was sent off against his former side to level the numbers.

• READ MORE: ‘Clown’ – Coventry City fans fume at Jay Dasilva decision against Luton Town, it’s a ‘disgrace’

Frank Lampard hits out at referee after Luton Town 1-0 Coventry City

It looked as though experts would be correct after they had backed Luton to win, but it will still be incredibly frustrating for Lampard in knowing the game could and perhaps would have played out far differently with 11 against 11 for more of the game.

Walsh’s red card saw the game even up on 68 minutes, with Cov getting more of their foot on the ball. Lampard spoke to Sky Sports to deliver his thoughts on the game post-match. He said: “Yeah, really disappointed for the team because the battling was incredible. 

“For us to go down to ten men so early in the game, and against a team that are going to go direct and keep putting it in your box? We defended it brilliantly all the way through.

“It makes it harder to digest because when they went down to ten you could see we were the team who wanted to play as well. They should’ve gone down to nine, that should be clear. And then, obviously, the goal at the end is disappointing for us. We’ve got to suck it up tonight because we’ve got a game to try and win next week.

“They were brilliant, we can’t lose sight of that. The players have been brilliant since I came in and that’s why we are where we are. But they [Luton] do that [bombard the box with crosses]. They [Coventry] dug in and showed every bit of sweat and organisation do do it.

“It takes a mistake from us for them to score. Circumstances, like you say, went against us in the game. But we’ll have to pick ourselves up. A few months ago, this wasn’t possible and now it is.

“In terms of the player and their reaction, it’s up to all of us now to reboot after the feeling of this to go against for Middlesbrough. It’s a first play-off game for us. It’s an opportunity to do something. As for us, it’s a bit sad tonight. It’s fine. It is what it is. We didn’t deserve to lose; absolutely not.

“In fact, for spirit, I think we are the team that should come out with whatever — a point and a feeling and we didn’t. With our fans behind us, hopefully a level playing field [against Boro].

“They get a red card and then their boy kicks out right next to the referee at the end of the game. He decides not to give a red card. You know, it’s a critical time and it affects a lot of people and supporters and football clubs. It affects their chances of getting in the play-offs.

“Sometimes I wish referees were sent to stand here and sent to say what they thought or what they saw. Because we’ve had a lot. We’ve had a lot. I don’t want to get in trouble but I think I’m allowed to say when the performance is substandard. It’s really frustrating. They should go down to nine and they don’t.

“Can they win with nine? Maybe they can. What’s the probability of that? It would look different for the last ten minutes. It’s important that I defend the club and when the level is not what you expect. I’ve not seen any level of football where it’s not a red.”

• READ MORE: Coventry City handed ‘fascinating’ warning over the future of Frank Lampard as ‘a number of clubs’ keep watch

Opta’s supercomputer is bound to change by 5pm after Coventry defeat

Opta believe Coventry’s play-off chances have dropped to 60.44% after this result, but that is ahead of the 3pm games. Should Middlesbrough and/or Millwall win, then Coventry’s chances will take a serious hit.

It could be out of their hands on final day against Michael Carrick’s Boro. Having surged up the table in recent months, it would be bitterly disappointing for them to now miss out and huge refereeing decisions can impact the outcomes of these vital games.

It’s the time in the season where accuracy is important and exactly why Lampard is right to feel aggrieved heading into final day. The damage the poor decisions in the game could cause could be catastrophic.

For now, all he and his side can do is regroup and watch the games that have the potential to impact them and leapfrog them in the table. Should they go into the CBS Arena with things in their hands, you wouldn’t bet against them getting the job done.