Coventry boss Frank Lampard was pleased to see his side’s defensive work pay off as they held firm before snatching a last-gasp winner at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ellis Simms’ second goal of the game in the third minute of stoppage time snatched the Sky Blues a 2-1 victory after Joel Latibeaudiere’s own goal had gifted the Owls an equaliser.
Lampard said: “The lads defended the box really well, defended all their corners really well. But if you defend a lot, sometimes those goals can just come.
“For the work we’ve done over these last two months and where we are trying to get to, sometimes a game just challenges you in a different way. This one did and the players dug in and we went at it at the end.”
Lampard praised the Owls and particularly their skipper Barry Bannan, adding: “They give you problems.
“You know they’ve got a good strong squad and a well-coached team and they give you issues and Barry Bannan is so influential, popping up around the pitch and finding passes, so we knew that was coming a little bit.”
Match-winner Simms earned the praise of his manager, with Lampard saying: “It gives off a sign of some character and desire in the team to keep going. Today’s a very tough match, no doubt, but Ellis’s desire to chase a lost cause that people maybe would have given up on and finish it well (was excellent).
“He’s also very dedicated and beneath the quiet nature is a determined lad that wants to score goals, wants to improve himself.
“I knew Ellis from working with him at Everton, so to come in when I did, when he was in that sort of moment, maybe it was helpful for both of us, that I could come in with a fresh approach.”
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl tried to stay positive following an unlucky defeat.
He said: “You can say apart from the two conceded goals, we did everything right.
“On the front foot, high intensity, a lot of shots. We created a lot of opportunities, set-pieces, front-foot defending, on the pitch, from the bench. I cannot blame or complain about something.
“I was disappointed about the first goal because, again, no pressure on the ball.
“I’m proud of my team, how they play football. I think we played the football that we want to see, but we didn’t get the right result.
“I said to my players after the game, this is the difference between an individual sport like tennis and a team one like football.
“In individual sports you have to take the responsibility as your own, but also like team sports, you have to stick together and you have to take responsibility as a group and we have to lift each other. We have to help each other, recover and then next week we go again.”
Ange Postecoglou insisted his controversial cupped ear celebration to Tottenham fans in a 1-0 loss at Chelsea had been misinterpreted on another bad night for the Australian.Spurs slipped to a 16th defeat in the Premier League this season thanks to a 50th-minute header by Enzo Fernandez, but it only told half the story of a typically frenzied London derby.VAR was required to rule out a fine strike...
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...
David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...
Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...
Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...
Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...
Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender