Lampard ready as Coventry seals play-off place
Frank Lampard is relishing a "great challenge" as he aims to guide Coventry City through the EFL Championship play-offs after sealing its place on the last day of the regular season with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Jack Rudoni scored in both halves at Coventry Building Society Arena, where Lampard's side secured fifth place and a play-off semi-final showdown with Sunderland by beating Michael Carrick's Boro.
The midfielder headed in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's cross just before half-time, while tucking home from Brandon Thomas-Asante's square ball with three minutes remaining.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Coventry, which was in 17th place when Lampard took charge at the end of November last year.
"It's great for the club, from where we've come from," he said. "It's going to be a great challenge. It's been a long week. I'm pleased to take a breath after that.
"You worry when you don't score, and you're on top, but we got what we deserved in the end. We have to expect the best version of Sunderland. They are there because they were so good in the first half of the season.
"I talk to Rudoni a lot. He is a great kid. Every day, he wants to get better. I never had that [heading ability]. He beats me with that. He is constant energy. He can be the main man of the day."
"It’s a great feeling," Rudoni said. "We have worked hard for this since the gaffer came in – from 17th to the play-offs.
"I've popped a couple [of goals] in, though I was blowing for the second, trying to keep up with Brandon. Everyone is buzzing. The noise was amazing. These fans get us through."
Defeat for Middlesbrough ended its own hopes of snatching a place in the play-offs, and Carrick rued a "sickening feeling" after missing out.
"I'm gutted for the boys," he said. "I think they gave everything today, put in a really good performance for the most part, and didn't get what we wanted from the game. It's a sickening feeling.
“We didn’t manage to take our opportunities and, in the end, we're feeling like we are.
"The fact we haven't got in the play-offs is hurtful enough. We've created our own expectations, which is the positive. The boys have shown what they can do, and we feel the disappointment we haven't got that."
Coventry will host the first leg of the play-off semi-final with Sunderland on Saturday 10 May (AEST) before travelling to Wearside for the second leg on Wednesday 14 May (AEST).
