Frank Lampard’s Coventry City success has been inspired by two things he learned from previous West Brom meeting

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Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion meet on Friday in a game that could well decide who finishes in the play-offs.

With four games of the Championship season remaining there is little room for error as just three points separate the two Midlands outfits.

A 1-1 draw against Hull City for Coventry paved the way for other sides to take advantage and either extend or close the gap on the side currently occupying the final play-off spot.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	42	25	13	4	82	29	53	88
2	BurnleyBurnley	42	24	16	2	57	13	44	88
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	42	26	7	9	57	33	24	83
4	SunderlandSunderland	42	21	13	8	57	38	19	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	42	16	16	10	54	45	9	64
6	CoventryCoventry	42	18	9	15	59	54	5	63
7	West BromWest Brom	42	14	18	10	51	39	12	60
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	42	17	9	16	61	51	10	60
9	MillwallMillwall	42	16	12	14	41	41	0	60

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Coventry under Frank Lampard given that the Sky Blues were languishing in the lower echelons of the division just a few months earlier and it was what he learned from his Good Friday opponents in their earlier meeting that has inspired their strong second half of the season.

• READ MORE: Normality’ – West Brom ace shares brutally honest Tony Mowbray and Carlos Corberan comparison, there’s a big difference

Frank Lampard was impressed by West Brom during previous Coventry encounter

The last time the two teams met was a very different scenario. Not only was Lampard early into his tenure, but current West Brom manager Tony Mowbray wasn’t in charge of the club.

Mowbray has picked up from the good job previously done by Carlos Corberan and the play-offs dream is very much still alive. It was West Brom that Lampard suffered his defeat as Coventry boss too and the England legend admitted he learned plenty from that December night at The Hawthorns.

Speaking in his press conference after the game, he said: “They’re a strong team and a well-drilled outfit, a physically strong team. It’s important in this league to be based on that. It’s something we have to improve ourselves.

“Although it’s been a funny period for them, they’ve been robust and they don’t lose games. It’s a big strength that we need to start working towards as well, so there are some things to take from our point of view and we respect them as a strong team in the league.”

Defeat for the hosts at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday would see them drop out of the top six due to an inferior goal difference, with the Baggies moving into their spot instead.

Will Frank Lampard be banned for Coventry vs West Brom?

Lampard served a touchline ban for Coventry in their draw against Hull but will be back in the dugout for the huge clash on Good Friday.

He was sent off in the Sky Blues’ loss against Burnley after referee James Bell alleged him to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official around the field of play after the final whistle which led to his dismissal”.

The 46-year-old was in the stands at the MKM Stadium after his charge, imposed on Monday, came into immediate effect.