‘We had some tremendous games’ – Chris Wilder’s previous Frank Lampard comments make for exciting Sheffield United v Coventry City clash

Add as preferred source on Google

Coventry City travel to Bramall Lane on Friday March in an 8pm kick-off for the televised Sky Bet Championship fixture against Sheffield United.

It’s the Blades and the Sky Blues that are first up in the 39th round of Championship fixtures as we exit the international break. All eyes will be on this huge encounter, with automatic promotion and play-off implications on the line for Frank Lampard and Chris Wilder.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	38	23	11	4	76	25	51	80
2	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	38	25	7	6	53	28	25	80
3	BurnleyBurnley	38	21	15	2	52	11	41	78
4	SunderlandSunderland	38	19	12	7	55	37	18	69
5	CoventryCoventry	38	17	8	13	55	48	7	59
6	West BromWest Brom	38	13	18	7	48	34	14	57
7	Bristol CityBristol City	38	14	15	9	49	41	8	57
8	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	38	15	9	14	57	48	9	54

Former Coventry City stars Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, now donning Sheffield United colours, are poised to face their former club in the process. They will look to take a huge step forward in the Championship title race.

Lampard has spoken previously about Wilder and the games in years gone by between them, while many Leeds United fans will remember his Derby County days and hope that he does their promotion chances a favour this time around.

• READ MORE: Sheffield United desperate to hit Championship target as worrying record could see them fail at Premier League return

Chris Wilder explains Frank Lampard thoughts

Wilder’s Sheffield United side drew level on points with Leeds following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday, with Rhian Brewster’s goal enough to secure back-to-back victories over their Steel City rivals prior to the break.

However, the Sky Blues have entered the two-week break on a fabulous run of form of their own, winning six out of their last seven second tier outings to leave themselves fifth and in a strong position to cement a play-off place.

Former England international Frank Lampard has masterminded a remarkable run of form since being appointed in November, when Coventry were languishing in 17th position. It means the Blades have yet another tricky test against the Midlands outfit.

United have not really had the best of times against Coventry recently, having won just once in the last five meetings, highlighting the difficulty for Wilder and co. ahead of Burnley and Leeds playing on Saturday.

Wilder is full of admiration for Lampard in seasons gone by. Speaking via BBC Radio Sheffield in 2019, he said: “The manager that they’ve got undoubtedly wants to be just as successful as a manager as he was as an outstanding player for that football club. He wants to carve a reputation.

“You talk about players destined to be managers and I think Frank was always going to be one of those.

“There’s some outstanding English managers in the Premier League who have been there for a while now. I should imagine Frank wants to be successful at a different level.”

Speaking via The Sheffield Star in 2019, Wilder added: “There was all that ‘Frank Lampard’s Derby County’ stuff going around. Lots of folk used to laugh at it but, do you know what, for me that shows he was ready to deal with the pressure and knowing all eyes were on him.

“He worked under some great managers at Chelsea and he’ll have picked up lots from them. He went there, changed things around… I think most of us knew he was always destined for given his history with the club and legendary status there.”

United enjoyed two hard-fought tussles with County en route to their second placed finish. Lampard’s team went on to lose in the play-off final but, remembering those encounters, Wilder can perhaps expect an entertaining match on Friday.

He added: “We had some tremendous games with them. They beat us at their place, when we went behind pretty quickly and then they changed a few things and we couldn’t get out until later on.

“At our place, we beat them and that was a proper match where nothing was asked and nothing was given. Frank changed the way Derby went about things after going in there. He brought in young players and ditched their counter-attacking style to something more proactive.

“Him, John Terry and Steven Gerrard, I think most managers they’ve worked for will have picked them out. Some iconic footballers think it’s easier than it is, that they’ll just take their badges and that’s that. They really underestimate it.

“What separates the ones who make it, like those three I’m sure, is a genuine love for the game and understanding of its intricacies from every single angle; tactical, physical, technical and mental. You need all four things. Some have an understanding of a few but you need them all.”

• READ MORE: How Leeds United, Sheffield United, and Burnley’s final eight fixtures compare in Championship title race

Sheffield United won’t expect an easy encounter against Coventry City and Lampard

Of course, a lot has happened since then. Lampard explained how he has changed as a manager recently and in the experiences he has had since managing Derby and Chelsea, but it’s fair to say that he has achieved a lot more than the other names Wilder predicted to be and do big things.

Their final-run in is tough, and they’ll be hoping the momentum they gained before the break can carry through to Friday’s game, and also into the play-off race. However, taking on the Blades on their home turf will be arguably the most difficult task of Lampard’s tenure so far.

It also won’t be made any easier if Wilder finds his options bolstered this international break. That said, does Lampard have the edge from the previous encounters? Does he have an edge due to the health of his squad currently?

The Sky Blues are hoping to have Ben Sheaf, Jack Rudoni, and Brandon Thomas-Asante all available to face the Blades after missing recent matches. It is another timely boost at the business end of the season, where it seems the stars are aligning for Lampard currently.