Frank Lampard states what his Coventry City side simply ‘can’t’ do vs Sunderland, it would derail play-off campaign

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Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has issued one thing that his side must not do ahead of Sunderland clash.

Coventry City face Sunderland this evening in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.

After beating Middlesbrough to clinch a play-off spot, Coventry City will host Sunderland at the CBS Arena, where they will hope for a repeat of when the two sides last met, which saw the Sky Blues run away as 3-0 victors.

Sunderland go into the tie with five successive defeats, a record that surely makes Frank Lampard’s side favourites to notch a positive result at the CBS Arena in front of a sold-out crowd, but the Coventry City boss is keen to not get ahead of himself, suggesting that there is one thing that his side must not ‘get caught up in’.

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Coventry City boss Frank Lampard names one thing that his side must avoid ahead of Sunderland meeting

Coventry City find themselves with a glorious opportunity to right the wrongs of their previous play-off campaign two years ago, which saw them crash out in the final to Luton Town.

This, on top of the collective view that his side are going into the clash with Sunderland as favourites are two of the many reasons why Lampard is keen to ensure that his side don’t get ahead of themselves in the clash.

“We have to focus on three games, and specifically one now, and then the away leg to see what we can do,” Lampard said, per BBC. 

“It’s exciting that we’re here because everyone wants to be in the play-offs.

“Yeah, for sure, it would be magical [promotion] but we’ve got three games before we get there – we can’t get caught up in all that.”

Coventry’s record against Sunderland this season has seen Lampard’s side beat them 3-0 at home, whilst Mark Robins masterminded a brilliant comeback at the Stadium of Light, which saw the Sky Blues come down from a two-goal deficit to draw in November.

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Frank Lampard must be wary as one side will feel the pressure in play-off clash

Because of the decent form Coventry City find themselves in, certainly in retrospect of Sunderland, there will no doubt be pressure on them to notch an expected victory at home to set them up perfectly for an away tie at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland, on the other hand, will have very little expectation lying on their shoulders and would be more than pleased with a point at the CBS Arena. This could conjure up an interesting dynamic in the tie that could work in favour of Regis Le Bris’ side, and as a result, hinder Coventry City.

Lampard has experience as the underdog as a manager, as was the case in his play-off campaign with Derby County; it is a new challenge for the Coventry coach this time around, which he is approaching the best way possible at the moment by not getting ahead of himself.