Coventry City: Frank Lampard says Sky Blues’ early form was unsustainable

Frank Lampard believes Coventry’s high standards in the first half of this season mean they are being judged by unrealistic expectations.

The Sky Blues took 43 points from their opening 18 Championship games and have topped the table since early October, but 15 points from the past 11 matches has seen the chasing pack close the gap at the top from 10 points to just three.

Monday’s defeat at Norwich made it seven away games in all competitions without a win, a run dating back to November, but Lampard says his side are being judged by “unsustainable” standards they set in the first four months of the season.

He told BBC CWR: “We have got to be careful to understand where we are at, where we sit in the table is due to our hard work.

“If we’d continued our form from November (until the end of the season) we’d have ended up on 112 points or something – it’s not a reality.

“Football games and periods come around that are challenging, they do to every team, whether you are a parachute team or not, like us.

“It’s important to have the right perspective. Negativity on and off the pitch can be negative, it’s important to be positive, that’s where I’m at.”

Asked about a “difficult time” for the club, Lampard added: “If you call ‘a difficult time’ winning against Leicester and Millwall and losing at Norwich, maybe that’s down to the standards we have set this season.

“Norwich clearly wasn’t our best day but there have been a lot of good days, we just have to get back at it.”

Asked about a possible shift in formation at the back or in midfield, Lampard said “it’s my job to think about it”.

Coventry thumped Saturday’s hosts QPR 7-1 at the CBS Arena in August but Lampard insisted: “That bears no relation. We played very well, it was a tough day for them, they reacted very well. They have got results through the season, a very good coach, players, atmosphere. I understand how tough it’s going to be.

“Nothing is going to guarantee you winning this league but we have to give the best version of ourselves.”

Jack Rudoni is back from a thigh injury while Lampard described 23-year-old winger Jahnoah Markelo as “one for the future” though “if he can help us in the short term that would be great too. We just need to get him match-fit”.

Lampard would not be drawn on more incomings before Monday’s transfer deadline, though added: “We’re aware the market is open, we’ll see. If there’s something that we felt would help the squad, that could happen, if not, we have got our squad, on we go.”