Frank Lampard rues 'really random' incident as 'character' sees Coventry City through in FA Cup
Frank Lampard was pleased with the character of his young players as Coventry City booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
The Sky Blues took the first half lead through defender Liam Kitching, who blasted home from a loose ball from a corner, but conceded to a similar goal from a stoppage time flag kick when the home side were momentarily a man down due to an injury to defender Luis Binks who had to leave the field, during which time Anthony Musaba took the tie into extra-time, before it was decided on penalties.
City had two chances to get a second goal when Ellis Simms was denied by the keeper before Jack Rudoni had a goal disallowed, but asked if he was frustrated by not securing the tie to avoid the late drama, Lampard said: “I am happy with the performance. It can happen where you don’t get second goals. I felt we deserved a second goal, there was one disallowed. It was a goal so I don’t know what the referee saw but there were some strange decisions there throughout the game.
READ MORE: Coventry City player ratings v Sheffield Wednesday
READ MORE: Coventry City v Sheffield Wednesday live updates
“But there was some good play and we maybe could have scored in the second half. It’s Ellis’s chance and I think it drops to Rudi and there were some good situations with the front two who were lively, and I was pleased with them today. I thought there was an improvement at the front end of the pitch, so that can happen, that you don’t score.”
“And then the circumstances of their equaliser when Binksy was off the pitch because of a cut to the head. It’s really random but that can happen, but I don’t think we would have conceded with him on the pitch. So then it was character after that.
“Some games the story is just what it is and you end up with a really good feeling because the players show character to take penalties and then walk around and the fans are happy because they have seen a real cup tie. So I think it was a good evening.”
With the game finishing 1-1 after extra-time, City then went on to win the shootout 4-3 with Victor Torp, Josh Eccles, Jack Rudoni and Norman Bassette all scoring their spot-kicks and Jake Bidwell denied by a save. But with Jamal Lowe firing over the bar and Oliver Dovin making a save to deny Olaf Kobacki, the Sky Blues went through with Bassette cooly slotting home the decider.
Delighted with the character his players showed, the head coach said: “We’re really young lads, so for Norman to step up and Oli to make a save, even people like Josh (Eccles) to take one. I know some have taken them before but they were very confident to put their hand up to take them, which is obviously a great sign. And I think we deserved it today. Sheffield Wednesday are a good opponent and they played well but I think we deserved it for how we approached the whole game.
“Sometimes you get the luck that you feel you earned and deserved. We didn’t feel we got that last week and we didn’t get any in the 93rd minute when they equalised but we kept going and got it in the end.”
