Coventry City

Ailsa Cowen
BBC Sport journalist

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Kaine Kesler-Hayden is available after returning to training: "He's come back sharp, he looks good. He's still a very valued squad member on and off the pitch." However, Josh Eccles is not yet ready to return after welcoming a baby last week and suffering ankle and calf injuries. Lampard hopes he will be back in training in two to three weeks, while Luke Woolfenden is expected to be out for longer.

• Lampard believes Coventry's recent victories represent an "improvement", but he insisted there is still more to come from his side: "No performance is absolutely complete. It felt, from where we'd been and where we're trying to get to, that the win over Newcastle was an improvement. There's much more we can do."

• Lampard believes his players should enjoy their recent successes after a difficult run of results: "We're fortunate to have had a really good time these past 18 months, so when you lose games you really try to look into it, and try to improve, and when you get results you should enjoy it." He added: "Every game for us in this league is tough because of where we're at."

• Tatsuhiro Sakamoto earned praise after his performance against Newcastle: "I know him really well. I love him as a player and a person. He trains every day with a hunger to get into the team. He understands the competition. What he showed against Newcastle is what he can bring to the football club and more."

• Lampard also spoke positively about working with younger players Sidiki Cherif, 19, and Stephen Mfuni, 18: "I love working with players in that age bracket. When they have the personalities these boys do, they're desperate to learn and improve. You support them and talk about their game a lot - review games and training."

• On Tottenham's quality: "When I look at them play, they have a lot of quality with a very good coach. We worry about ourselves and the start we had on paper to where we've got to with these two wins makes us feel good, so it's not the time for comparison."

• On what he expects from Spurs: "As [we're] a promoted side, I'm sure they'll have a feeling of confidence against us. That's fine. We have to believe in ourselves and go there with our own confidence and play with the same purpose we did against Newcastle."

Hit play above to hear more from Lampard, speaking to BBC CWR's Will Oelrich, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Frank Lampard handed a first Premier League start to Sidiki Cherif against Newcastle United on Monday, after his summer move from Fenerbahce, and the teenager repaid the faith.

"We've got a lot of belief in Sidi, a big signing for the club," said Lampard, after inflicting a second successive 4-1 away defeat for the Magpies.

"He's very respectful but there's a hunger that flicks on when he goes on to the training pitch and in game. I felt it from our first meeting and I've seen it in training - he wants to train and do well.

"Sometimes you don't realise he's 19. He'll be disappointed with the one he missed and I've said to him it's no problem because that's good. You get there, you get hungry, you go again. He's got that little edge to him in a good way."

At 19 years and 301 days old, Cherif became Coventry's youngest Premier League goalscorer since Robbie Keane against Middlesbrough in April 2000 (19 years 282 days), before Stephen Mfuni, at 18, then became the club's youngest-ever scorer in the competition.

He is also the first player to score a Premier League goal from outside the box for the Sky Blues since David Thompson struck against Newcastle in January 2001.

His crisp finish, through a forest of defenders, was a first in his fourth appearance for Coventry, having already won the early penalty.

Coventry scored 97 goals as they won the Championship last season and the ruthless nature of their finishing was a reminder of their striking power.

With Hadji Wright still out with a serious thigh injury, much of the goalscoring burden will fall on £20m Cherif, who was not even born the last time Coventry were in the Premier League.

Lampard said: "Sidi has played in European competition with Fenerbahce, so there is something about him that hopefully feels like he belongs on the level.

"There's something about him I think is a bit special."

Read more here

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Imagine a world where Manchester City had not used "sham contracts" to build a team capable of winning three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups.

If City were the winners, then there had to be losers - and not just those teams who finished runners-up or lost cup finals.

The potential impact runs much deeper and includes missed Champions League qualification, relegation and Premier League prize money.

Thirty-five other teams played in the English top flight between 2009 and 2018.

And every one could in some way claim to have been left financially out of pocket.

Learn more about how the numbers were calculated here

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Coventry City and Newcastle United.

Here are some of your comments:

Coventry fans

Stephen: Clinical in front of goal, took our chances and just fantastic to get that first win in front of our own fans. Rudoni and Thomas were awesome.

Dean: Well done, Coventry, I didn't see that win coming. They looked dangerous in attack. If they play like that they could have a strong chance of staying up.

Angela: Brilliant result! I was beginning to lose my sons to gaming but this game had them glued to the screen. What a fantastic match!

David: Well done, the Sky Blues. A lot of doubters still out there. The lads are learning and improving.

Newcastle fans

Barry: We were so indecisive and devoid of ideas. There is more than enough talent in this team and we should be beating teams like Coventry. There are so many negatives from this game and to ship eight goals in our past two away matches is simply not acceptable. I could go on and on with how bad that performance was, but I'm sure that will be covered by other equally frustrated fans.

Dave: That was the worst display I have seen from Newcastle - couldn't put a pass in and couldn't hit a barn door with our shooting.

Mike: Terrible performance from Newcastle lacking in energy, creativity, discipline and confidence to shoot. The defence was a shambles and, although they dominated possession, they never threatened.

Phil: Soft and weak both in defence and attack. Had the chances and didn't take them. In this league you'll be punished, regardless of the opposition.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The first instalment of Monday night football did not disappoint at the Coventry Building Society Arena as the Sky Blues put Newcastle to the sword in their first Premier League home win in over 25 years.

From kick-off, the Sky Blues showed intensity and desire to get forward and take the game to the Magpies.

That confidence was rewarded with an early penalty which Jack Rudoni perfectly slotted into the corner to give Coventry the lead after six minutes.

An early goal for any team is a boost, but for a side that had failed to score until their fifth game of the campaign, it felt like the shackles were off.

Make no mistake, it was end-to-end, with Newcastle equally as dangerous on the break. The difference being a lack of quality in their final third and Sky Blues centre-back Bobby Thomas.

Fresh from his heroics at Nottingham Forest, the no-nonsense defender was at it again, making two crucial blocks before the break to deny Matias Fernandez-Pardo, much to the delight of the home supporters.

Sidiki Cherif doubled the Sky Blues lead, but a rocket from Sven Botman gave Newcastle a lifeline with 20 minutes to go.

Tired legs invited pressure, but Coventry didn't crumble and the introduction of Frank Onyeka and Victor Torp re-strengthened the midfield after Newcastle had made four changes which included Joelinton.

Squad depth is so important in the Premier League and it showed with all of head coach Frank Lampard's changes playing a vital role in the closing stages.

Striker Ellis Simms was called into action and scored with his first touch of the game to restore a two-goal lead, before 18-year-old Stephan Mfuni made it four after just three minutes on the pitch.

It was an all-round performance that epitomised Lampard's philosophy of team effort.

But more than that, back-to-back wins propel Coventry to 14th where they sit level on points with Manchester United.

There's growing confidence that they have what it takes to compete in the Premier League.

Coventry defender Bobby Thomas, speaking to BBC Radio CWR after victory over Newcastle on Monday: "I thought everyone was fantastic - across the frontline, midfield, at the back and the goalkeeper.

"For the [young] lads to get the goals is important and it can only build confidence. Sidiki [Cherif] was a real handful in the first half. Stephen [Mfuni] got a goal and is a real good talent.

"We have still got 32 games left so we don't want to get too carried away with everything, but it's two good back-to-back wins in the Premier League, which has been a long time coming for us. It's a good move up the table.

"We have to try to establish ourselves as a real Premier League contender and move from there."

Hit play above to hear more from Thomas or listen on BBC Sounds here

Emily Salley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The international break did not fall kindly for Coventry and they were unable to gather momentum after defeating Nottingham Forest for their first Premier League win since the 2000-01 campaign.

But the hosts could not have asked for a better start on Monday night as Lukas Hornicek, under pressure from Ephron Mason-Clark, recklessly parried the ball away before throwing himself at the legs of Sidiki Cherif.

Newcastle piled on the pressure after Jack Rudoni's opener and Coventry had defender Bobby Thomas to thank for entering the break in front as he made two excellent blocks to deny Matias Fernandez-Pardo.

After scoring just one goal in their opening five games, the floodgates finally opened for Frank Lampard's side and Cherif's piercing finish in the 48th minute ensured Coventry raced out of the blocks again in the second half.

Simms made the most of the advantage given by referee John Brooks, who allowed play to go on after Joelinton clattered into Brandon Thomas-Asante on the edge of the box.

But it was 18-year-old Stephen Mfuni's goal that was the pick of the bunch for the hosts as he drove into the penalty area before bending a lovely curling finish past Hornicek.

After difficult tests against Arsenal and Manchester City to start the season, this victory will be all the evidence Lampard and Coventry fans need to prove they have what it takes not only to survive this season, but compete.

Coventry boss Frank Lampard told BBC Sport: "Today we showed a big energy and showed our abilities which we'll have to maximise.

"You have to ride a bit of luck. But they did it. Quality goals went in. Sometimes you have to deserve it.

"Sticking with it [was key]. It's nervy because two is never enough. They were causing us problems. Stay in the game in those moments and the third goal was a big moment for us mentally."

On Sidiki Cherif and Stephen Mfuni: "Their attitude and the way they are is top level. They want to learn. They've settled quickly. Steph is going to be a top player in every sense. Unfortunately, he's not ours. He's shown incredible maturity.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground because it's so hard in this league. If you think you have cracked it you haven't.

"Good feeling but don't get overexcited. Enjoy the moment."

Listen to Lampard with BBC CWR here

Coventry goalscorer Jack Rudoni speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a massive night for us, our first home Premier League win in 25 years. We're glad we could score four goals for the fans. We've just got to carry that on now into the next game. That's two wins on the bounce now."

On the first point at home: "Our first two home games didn't go how we wanted, we wanted to do it in front of the fans. We did it all last year in the Championship. We want to make this place a fortress and today showed we can do that."

On the step-up into the Premier League: "There's a lot more quality, we don't have the ball as much, for me personally you have to adapt to maybe more second balls and working in the final third more. Those two wins have definitely given us confidence. We can't wait for Tottenham next week."

On taking penalties: "As soon as he went down I wanted it. A few penalty takers weren't on the pitch. I said to the lads this one is mine."

On his goal celebration dedicated to his nan: "She had a heart attack last week, she's stable and she'll be watching from hospital. I just wanted to dedicate this to her where she'll be watching from."

On his journey up the leagues: "It's been a long journey, I'm the type of person that believes in myself, it was only a matter of time. It's step by step, once I achieve one achievement I'm onto the next."

On where Coventry could finish this season: "If we come in every week with that sort of intensity, you never know where it could take you. The other promoted sides have started strong too."

Did you know?

• Coventry City have enjoyed back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since March - April 2001 (2-0 v Derby, 3-1 v Leicester), while they bagged four or more goals in a top-flight game for the first time since May 2000 (v Sheffield Wednesday, 4-1)

• Coventry's Jack Rudoni took and scored his first-ever penalty goal (excluding shootouts) in his 280th appearance in all competitions in his senior career.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Coventry's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Tuesday for a selection of your replies.

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Coventry celebrated their first Premier League goal and points for more than 25 years by beating Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Monday night's visitors Newcastle have won all seven league and cup meetings this century between the two, albeit the clubs haven't faced each other since February 2010.

A pivotal October for Coventry?

The caveat to Coventry's run of four straight league defeats from the start of the season was that it included away games against last season's top two sides. In a more favourable-looking run this month, they have three home fixtures out of four and will face the two teams who sat below them going into the latest round of matches.

Having felled Forest, Coventry are attempting to become the first English side in 127 years to earn consecutive top-flight wins immediately after losing their opening four games without scoring. Derby County are the only club to do so, in 1899, and they rallied to finish sixth.

A far more modern precedent to give Coventry some belief is that three promoted sides have started as badly as them in the Premier League and still avoided relegation.

Head coach Frank Lampard hopes his team can take inspiration from the memory of their most recent Monday night home game, an outstanding 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in February. Coventry were second to Boro going into that fixture after losing a 10-point lead, but victory put them back on top and they pulled away to clinch the Championship title.

"I watch parts of that game back regularly because it was our outstanding game last year considering what was on it," said Lampard. "And now we have to do 38 (sic) versions of that kind of feeling to get things nailed on."

Positive start for Jaissle

Newcastle are playing promoted opponents for the second match in a row, having held off a late fightback to end Hull City's unbeaten start to the season. That result, coupled with a high-tempo first-half display, made partial amends for the dismal 4-1 defeat at Leeds United five days earlier.

Newcastle's defensive vulnerability is clear; they faced a league-high 97 shots across their opening five games.

Nonetheless, a tally of eight points from five games is a solid start under Matthias Jaissle – especially in the wake of a tumultuous summer during which they sold their three highest-profile players.

Despite injuries hindering Newcastle's youthful rebuild, a win on Monday would give Jaissle the joint-second best start by a Magpies manager after six Premier League games.

Newcastle are an exciting watch with the way they set about games and have so much pace in their team, but I don't think they have much control of matches.

This feels like a great opportunity for Coventry to follow up their first win of the season with another positive result.

Beating Nottingham Forest last time out was such a massive result for the Sky Blues - but can they back it up with another victory?

I am not sure they will. A draw feels like the obvious result to me.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Coventry City's limited edition 'All-Pink' shirt, that was launched on Friday morning, has sold out.

The 1700 shirts are part of the club's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign that coincides with October being Breast Cancer Awareness month.

According to Cancer Research UK, one in seven women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Coventry City chief business officer, Nicola Ibbetson, told BBC CWR that 10% of the overall shirt sales will go to charity, with match-worn shirts from Monday's game against Newcastle United set to be auctioned off later this month.

Listen to Ibbetson's interview on BBC CWR by pressing the play button above, or on BBC Sounds here

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League resumes this weekend so can Coventry City pick up from where they left off when they host Newcastle United?

It was a difficult start to the campaign for the Sky Blues, who shipped 10 goals in four consecutive defeats. But Coventry went into the break feeling positive following a defiant win at Nottingham Forest, in which left-back Jay Dasilva scored their first goal of the campaign.

Frank Lampard and the rest of his coaching staff will have inevitably spent the last three weeks working on the next round of five fixtures that take place before November's shorter international break.

The first test is Newcastle, who have not only made a strong start to the campaign under new boss Matthias Jaissle, but carry a strong record against the Sky Blues.

Coventry have lost seven of their past eight league games against the Magpies, including the past five in a row - though this is the first time the two sides will have faced one another since 2009-10 in the Championship.

Chris Coleman was in charge then and Leon Best, Clinton Morrison and Freddie Eastwood all featured against Chris Hughton's Newcastle.

In comparison, Lampard has a much better professional record against Newcastle.

Only against Crystal Palace has Coventry's boss won more Premier League games as a manager than he has versus Newcastle. Meanwhile, as a player, Lampard won 16 Premier League matches against the Magpies, only winning more against Sunderland (19) and Tottenham (18).

And although the Coventry Building Society Arena will be a new ground for the majority of Jaissle's team, it will be a familiar return for Jacob Murphy.

The Newcastle winger spent the 2015-16 on loan with the Sky Blues in League One, scoring nine goals in 40 appearances for a team widely considered to have under-performed under Tony Mowbray.

He has gone on to make 223 Premier League appearances for Newcastle.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.

If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).

Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.

The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.

The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.

While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.

Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.

Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.

Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.

The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.

The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.

While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.

Read the piece in full here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Coventry boss Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at CBS Arena (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference or you can listen to him speak on BBC CWR:

• Lampard said there are no injury concerns for the players returning from international duty. Defenders Milan van Ewijk and Kaine Kesler-Hayden have returned to training.

• Josh Eccles "will still be a few more weeks potentially", said Lampard. Haji Wright and Luke Woolfenden will be out for a little bit longer.

• He said it was a "relief" to get their first win against Nottingham Forest, adding: "It was really a real pleasure as it sunk in for the players to feel that feeling of winning a Premier League game. I have to understand why [for] the players that's a big deal for them so as long as we remember all the reasons why they got there and keep doubling down on all the work we're talking about and what we do, then it's good."

• Lampard said he has seen progression in his team but he is "not overly satisfied" as he does not like winning one game out of five. He added: "There will be things that they will naturally learn as they go and my job is to be there to support them and understand if they keep going, keep working, belief will grow with that."

• On his former club Manchester City, where he played in 2014-15, and their guilty verdict: "We've all seen the news, it's obviously big news, Man City are appealing. What can you say when an appeal is going on? I'm not inside the story, I'm outside it completely. I played for Man City a long time ago now, for one year. We'll wait and see what the result of the appeal is and onwards. I don't know the timelines at all."

• He said the support from Coventry fans has been "incredible" and explained the two-way street between his side and the fans means they are desperate to bring joy to supporters: "It's pretty unique because it is a support base that have lived unique circumstances of going down the leagues and coming back and now we're in this moment and we rely on them. Things are tougher now so we need them more than ever and they'll be there."

• On Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle: "I've seen elements of what he's trying to bring and how he speaks about what he wants to bring, the style that he wants to show with his team. I wish him well in the job because he's a young manager and his job is challenging and there's a lot of opinion and a lot of scrutiny in what we all do."

Hit play above to hear more from Lampard, speaking to BBC CWR's Will Oelrich, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth says he and his team-mates are ready to "kick on" after earning their first three points of the season before the extended international break.

The Sky Blues get back under way on Monday against Newcastle at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Reflecting on the opening five games of the campaign, Rushworth told BBC CWR: "Going into every game we have had the same confidence and belief. That's been building and building as the games have gone on.

"We've had the opportunities to score goals, but the level and standard is just higher. It's ruthless.

"It's quicker so if you give the opposition an opportunity then they will take it.

"Everyone is looking forward to Monday under the lights against Newcastle. It's the perfect time for us to play this type of game at home, so I'm really excited for that.

"The fans give us an extra boost. We want to perform for them as they've had our back this season.

"We needed to bounce back and give them what they've been giving us. I'm glad that we were able to do that at Nottingham Forest and that's the starting point for us."

Listen to Rushworth's interview by hitting play below or on BBC Sounds here

Image source, Getty Images

A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.

An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.

However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.

There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.

Read more on what rival clubs want

BBC CWR's Will Oelrich is joined by Coventry City fans Conna and Andy for the latest Sky Blues Fancast.

They discuss whether Frank Lampard will stick with a back five against Newcastle United or switch back to a four with it being a home fixture.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Coventry City page to get all Sky Blues audio content.