Coventry City: Sheffield Wednesday moment could unlock seven-figure signing

Norman Bassette’s start at Coventry City has been mixed, but the teenage striker’s performance in the FA Cup third-round penalty shootout triumph over Sheffield Wednesday should provide a huge confidence boost as Frank Lampard looks to drive his side up the league in 2025.

The 2024/25 season has turned out to be a thoroughly disappointing one for Coventry, who were widely expected to challenge for promotion after reaching an FA Cup semi-final under Mark Robins and coming close to finishing first last season. Few could have predicted that Robins would be dismissed of his duties just months later, but that is exactly what happened when Doug King made the tough decision to end his nearly eight-year reign in the West Midlands.

Robins, on the other hand, had failed to bring the Sky Blues into the promotion picture despite King’s expectations and summer funding, and he was replaced by Lampard, an ex-Chelsea and Everton head coach.

Lampard and Coventry have been blighted by inconsistency in recent weeks, with the 46-year-old winning four, drawing three and losing three of his opening ten games as the side remain in 16th position.

Several Sky Blues players will need to step up sooner rather than later, and it will be hoped their recent third-round advancement can serve as something of a springboard as far as Bassette is concerned.

Norman Bassette’s winning penalty for Coventry City versus Sheffield Wednesday

Coventry are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup and will play host to Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town next month after seeing off Sheffield Wednesday at home courtesy of Bassette’s winning spot-kick.

Lampard had a strong team, and Coventry took the lead after 26 minutes through Liam Kitching. However, in the third minute of stoppage time, Anthony Musaba equalised for the Owls at the death.

But Coventry held their nerve and made it through extra time before going to penalties. After Danny Rohl’s side’s Jamal Lowe and Olaf Kobacki both missed from twelve yards out, Bassette, a second-half substitute, stepped up to convert the winning penalty.

The Belgian international didn’t hold back in his celebration, stripping off and holding up his shirt, which elicited varied reactions on social media.

Bassette felt confident at the time, and Coventry hopes to retain that momentum as 2025 begins.

Norman Bassette can have Coventry City confidence following Sheffield Wednesday exploits

Bassette joined Coventry from Caen in the summer for a rumoured fee of over £2 million. He has had an erratic season, but has shown flashes of promise overall.

Bassette did not open his account until November, when he scored in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Sheffield United, and he scored the sole goal for Coventry in their humiliating 4-1 defeat at Portsmouth last month.

The 20-year-old has been tipped for a big future in the game, as evidenced by the fact that he has already represented Belgium at senior international level, and Coventry fans will argue how promising he has been overall, with his relentless high-pressing and pace in behind posing problems for many Championship backlines.

Bassette’s goals simply haven’t flowed enough yet, and that’s the true stumbling block he has if he wants to get started at the CBS Arena. However, strikers, particularly those of a young age, rely on confidence, and you can only imagine how much of a lift Saturday’s event gave the former KV Mechelen loanee.

Bassette has only scored twice for the Sky Blues, but he has been a frequent starter since Lampard took over, and he is definitely a fan. Lampard will try to repay that faith in the forthcoming matches against Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers, and Watford, all of which are scheduled before the end of the month.

If the 20-year-old can start scoring more consistently, Coventry may look back on his winning penalty in the shootout as a turning point.

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