Coventry City match response from CoventryLive: Frank Lampard delivers his judgement on today’s game at Carrow Road.
Frank Lampard felt sorry for his Coventry City players after they squandered a 1-0 lead at Carrow Road, with Norwich snatching a stoppage time victory to deprive them three points.
Milan van Ewijk scored a well-worked first-half goal to put the Sky Blues ahead. They then appeared to have ridden the Canaries’ second-half comeback until substitute Amankwah Forson curled a spectacular equaliser into the top corner before hammering home the winner minutes later, which rebounded off Jake Bidwell and beat Oliver Dovin in goal.
When asked if it was an awful way to lose a football game, Lampard replied, “Yeah, and I’m disappointed for the players because they did everything. We were quite good in our defensive game, both on and off the ball, and we had great character and organisation while carrying out the strategy. And so I felt bad for them because it happens in football.”
Reflecting on the wonder goal equaliser, the City manager said: “I think the lad definitely puts it in the top corner, and you can’t do much about it. That is what transformed the game. If they hadn’t scored, I believe the game would have ended. But that altered the flow slightly at the end, and the rest is circumstance, which is terrible for the players because they deserve more.”
Asked if he thought there was a case for a foul on Joel Latibeaudiere in the build-up to the winning goal, he said: “I don’t know.”
City, however, squandered a chance to secure the three points seven minutes from time when striker Brandon Thomas-Asante broke through but blasted wide with just the keeper to beat.
“Yeah, maybe,” Lampard replied when asked about the wasted opportunity, “but Norwich are a terrific team and very powerful at home. We knew that, and I believe that is why we set up as we did, changing to a back three today due to a choice made by the opponent as well as injuries in our wide areas, which means that you are virtually forced to go that way at times.
“However, it provided us with a solid foundation. The players worked hard, and if Brandon scores… which is terrible because I thought he played incredibly well, I believe we will win. But it is the if-and-but of football.”
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