Coventry City

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Coventry City forward Ephron Mason-Clark made his international debut for Jamaica as they moved within one game of qualifying for this year's World Cup.

The 26-year-old started the 1-0 win over New Caledonia in Guadalajara.

Jamaica won the game with an 18th-minute goal from Wrexham forward Bailey Cadamarteri after they had finished second in their qualifying group to Curacao to miss out on automatic qualification

Mason-Clark's Coventry team-mate Joel Latibeaudiere also started the game, with the Reggae Boyz needing to beat DR Congo in next Tuesday's play-off final at the same Akron Stadium to qualify for the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The pressure in professional sport is huge. For the Championship promotion contenders it is that time of the season when the gauge is in the red.

Coventry City, nine points clear at the top, are dealing with not only the weight of finishing the job off but also the burden of ending the club's 25-year wait to return to the top flight.

How they deal with that pressure will be crucial and one player who has been working on that is key midfielder Victor Torp who has revealed he has been using a mind coach to help.

So what does a mind coach do? What aspects do they work on? And how might it help improve performance?

"The main thing we're trying going to do is keep them consistent in what their approaches are and help them go into a performance environment as confident as possible," Phil Clarke, a sports sports psychologist at the University of Derby, told BBC CWR.

"When we're under a lot of pressure, whether it's a big outcome at stake, we often try to change things to maximise our chances of success.

"But actually what ends up doing is we overthink it. We start doing things that we don't normally do.

"Hesitation starts to creep in. So it's just trying to give them confidence to just continue doing what they're doing and keep moving forward."

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Clarke added footballers feel nerves "just like any other person" before a match but helps them use their experience of performing under pressure and in front of crowds "to help remind them, help ground them" because "it's very easy to keep looking at what if we win this, we'll get this and that gets us into the Premier League".

When the Sky Blues had that wobble at the start of 2026 as their 10-point lead disappeared, boss Frank Lampard spoke about "correcting the negatives" and "promoting what we've done" and Clarke agreed that is a key strategy.

"When it comes to your mindset, you want to be able to, when the pressure's on, trust your ability," he said. "And that trust comes from years of work on that side of your game.

"Often the best performers in the world have that added aspect of knowing how to perform under pressure - that is why they work on their mindset.

"Every human being is different. It's not like you apply the exact same process every time. It's about understanding what works for that individual to get them into that ideal performance zone."

Matt Grimes says he felt the love of the Coventry fans as he helped the Sky Blues to a vital win at his former club Swansea.

The 30-year-old midfielder spent a decade at the Swans, making more than 300 appearances and captaining the side for five years before moving to Coventry in January 2025.

He was heckled by some sections of the home support on Saturday but when he put the visitors 2-0 up shortly before half-time, he raised his hands in apology and did not celebrate the goal.

He told BBC CWR: "It was strange, I obviously spent a long time here so it was strange being in the away dressing room.

"It was good to get on the scoresheet but the main thing was the three points. I thought the lads were brilliant, it was the perfect away performance."

On his lack of celebration, he added: "I have got a lot of love for (Swansea), I spent a good chunk of my years here, they gave me a lot, so out of respect for the club and the people, I felt it was right not to."

He thanked the travelling fans for their support however, adding: "The amount of love I got from the fans was outstanding and I can't thank them enough, they were brilliant from minute one to minute 90.

"I know they will be with us for the rest of the campaign; we just keep going."

The Sky Blues have a nine-point cushion at the top of the table with seven games to play, with third-placed Ipswich 11 points back, albeit with a game in hand.

Grimes insisted "nothing is done yet", adding: "We've obviously put ourselves in a brilliant position. We just need to keep our levels as high as possible, as they have been all season, to get us over the line.

"We just have to keep going - ticking them off. It's (all about) the next game."

Coventry boss Frank Lampard was delighted with the discipline of his team as they won at Swansea to take another big step towards promotion to the Premier League.

"You can't get more professional, you can't get more tactically on point from the players - they [Swansea] are a good team, high pressing, rotations, the want to move ball and play through you," he told BBC CWR.

"We dealt with every aspect of the game from start to finish, we went a bit more direct early on to miss out the press, but as as soon as we could get the ball down, we did - and we were clinical in front of goal, defended our box.

"The tactical discipline was brilliant, it was a good day and a great performance by the lads."

The three goals came in the space of 11 minutes before half-time, and they were able to play out the second half to earn a clean sheet.

"It gives you a great feeling in the game, that you can start to play and the handling of the second half for me was outstanding as well," said Lampard.

Matt Grimes was one of Coventry's scorers against his former club and kept his celebrations low key.

"I've had it myself, when you come back to your old club you try to make it a positive pressure but it's not easy - and he played here for 10 years," Lampard added.

"I'm delighted he got his goal, he fully deserved it."

Coventry have a nine-point lead with seven games remaining - the next at home to Derby County on Friday 3 April, following the international break.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is happy with the options he has up front in the absence of top scorer Haji Wright.

The 27-year-old suffered a groin injury in last weekend's defeat by Southampton and has not travelled for international duty with the USA.

Ellis Simms or Brandon Thomas-Asante is expected to take Wright's place leading Coventry's attack at Swansea on Saturday (17:15 GMT).

"It's an opportunity for Ellis, and Brandon potentially as he's played that role as well," Lampard told BBC CWR.

"All those players have given us a lot this year in their own way. It's one of the reasons why our goals record is what it is, so it's credit to them when an injury to Haji comes along."

Coventry are the EFL's leading scorers with 78 goals so far this season and they head the Championship table by seven points with eight games remaining.

"It's one of the reasons why you need two and a half or three players for the number nine role because if you only have two and one is injured you're really worried about the other one which, is why Brandon is so useful with his versatility," he added.

"Ellis has trained really well this season - his attitude and approach and his development and how he's playing, I see it every day on the training ground so if he gets a chance now we're happy with that."

Listen to more Coventry City content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

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After their promotion rivals slog it out earlier in the day, Coventry have the chance to tighten their grip on top spot as they head to Swansea on Saturday evening (17:15 GMT).

The Sky Blues go into the weekend with a seven-point lead in the Championship title race and a nine-point cushion in the quest for automatic promotion, with eight games to play.

They will seek to bounce back from last Saturday's home defeat to Southampton on the road at Swansea, who just about remain on the fringes of the play-off race.

The Swans went down 2-0 at Wrexham last Friday, their third defeat in four on the road, but their home form is in stark contrast and, depending on results elsewhere, a fifth win in six in front of their own fans could haul them within five points of the top-six.

• Swansea have lost their past two league games against Coventry – they last lost three in a row against them in a run of five between 1938 and 1947.

• After a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture this season, Coventry can do the league double over Swansea for the first time since 1946-47, also in the second tier.

• Since the start of December 2025, no team have won more points in Championship home games than Swansea (26 – level with Ipswich), going unbeaten in all 10 in this period (W8 D2).

• Coventry lost at home to Southampton last time out, while they have only suffered back-to-back defeats in the Championship once across their past 38 matches (January this year, v Norwich and QPR).

• Zan Vipotnik has been directly involved in 19 goals in the Championship this season (17 goals, 2 assists), with Joel Piroe in 2022-23 (21) the last Swansea player to reach 20+ in a league campaign.

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There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

Coventry manager Frank Lampard spoke to BBC Radio CWR.

"On a statistical basis we shouldn't lose the game because we created enough big chances to score three or four goals - we had five big chances in the game," he said.

"In the first half I think they wanted to slow the game down from the start and we bought into that a little bit. We normally have more energy in our game.

"We're not happy with the goals we conceded. You can't get that wrong because you won't win games of football, and we weren't clinical at the top end.

"By our own standards, were we as good as we want to be? No, but that's football at this stage of the season, you just want to try to get a result. We gave everything and we have to go again."

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Coventry City owner Doug King has said the club tried to buy on-loan goalkeeper Carl Rushworth but a deal could not be agreed with Brighton at the time.

The 24-year-old has has kept 13 clean sheets in an outstanding spell with the Sky Blues that has helped them surge eight points clear at the top of the Championship, and into pole position to win the title and Premier League promotion, with nine games remaining.

"We did try to buy him but that wasn't able to be done at the time," King told BBC CWR.

"He's shown himself to be a high quality goalkeeper and when we lost Olvier Dovin [to a knee injury] we recognised we needed a goalkeeper that adds that assuredness.

"It pervades out through the team and defence if you're very sure of someone behind you and we've all seen him grow into a fantastic goalkeeper."

King did not say whether the club would try again to sign him but Rushworth may well have given them hope by telling BBC Sport he is "happy to weigh up the option" of leaving the Seagulls if necessary.

Rushworth's loan at Coventry is the sixth of his career and King says the move has benefited everyone.

"We've given him that platform and given it to Brighton as well to showcase their goalkeeper in the Championship and they should be pretty pleased with the way it's gone for us and them," King said.

"He's done great and hopefully he'll continue to do great over the next nine games."

In a wide-ranging interview with BBC CWR, King also said if Coventry do end their 25-year wait to return to the top flight, they would approach the task of staying there "the Cov way".

"Burnley have been up and down a couple of times. Sunderland have changed the whole 11 which was quite radical," he said.

"We'll do it the Cov way - the way we think is the right way to achieve what we want to.

"You definitely would like to try to stay there - certainly for one year - that allows you to bed in a little but it's not straightforward.

"We're looking at lots of different things."

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth admits he may need to leave Brighton to fulfil his ambitions.

The 24-year-old, on loan at Championship leaders Coventry, has been at the Seagulls for seven years.

He is yet to make a senior appearance for the club and his loan at the Sky Blues is the sixth of his career.

Rushworth has England ambitions and, as he eyes helping Coventry back to the top flight for the first time in 25 years, is considering his long-term future.

"I understand football is never easy and simple. Sometimes you've got to be selfish, see all the opportunities on the table," the former England Under-21 goalkeeper told BBC Sport.

"If that's here [Coventry], perfect, if it's at Brighton so be it. But if it's away from Brighton I'm happy to weigh up the option.

"I've been speaking to my agent and GG [Gordon Greer, Brighton's pathway's manager]. I'm trying to focus on the here and now but it's definitely a conversation to have.

"I want to be a Premier League goalkeeper, I want to have an established career and I want to get there as quick as I can.

"I do think I'm ready and I just need the opportunity and I want to take it."

Rushworth joined as a 17-year-old having been released by Huddersfield and has had loan spells at Worthing, Walsall, Lincoln, Swansea and Hull.

He has played 37 times for Coventry, keeping 13 clean sheets and is leading the race for the Championship's Golden Glove award.

The Sky Blues are eight points clear at the top with nine games left ahead of Saturday's visit of Southampton.

"This has been the best loan I've had, the most enjoyable, there have been so many positives to it," added Rushworth. "It'll be good to see how the season finishes and to keep striving about where we want to get to."

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert and Millwall's Femi Azeez have won the Championship's manager and player of the month awards for February.

Saints took 13 points from a possible 15 as they went unbeaten last month, finishing with successive wins over QPR and Sheffield Wednesday to move into play-off contention.

Eckert was appointed Southampton's permanent head coach in December having been in interim charge when Will Still was sacked at the start of November.

He has won 12 of his 23 league games, taking the south coast club from 21st place to the race for a top-six finish.

Coventry City's Frank Lampard, Philippe Clement of Norwich City and Millwall boss Alex Neil were also nominated for the manager of the month award.

Though the Lions did win through winger Femi Azeez, who took home the player award after helping the side to win four of their five games in February.

The 24-year-old made five goal contributions, striking a superb volley to open the scoring against Birmingham in their 3-0 win at the Den.

Saints midfielder Leo Scienza was also up for the player award, alongside Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck and Sky Blues striker Haji Wright.

Southampton could be in with a chance at the top six on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 GMT) but will need to beat in-form league leaders Coventry City.

If Wrexham fail to take any points against Swansea on Friday, the door will open for the Saints to leapfrog into sixth spot with three points thanks to a superior goal difference.

However, hosts Coventry are on a six-match winning streak and running away with the Championship title as things stand with an eight point lead at the top.

• Coventry City are winless in their last six league games against Southampton (D3 L3) since a 4-1 win in October 2008.

• Southampton have one win in their last seven league visits to Coventry (D4 L2), a 4-2 win under Nigel Adkins in the 2011-12 season.

• Coventry manager Frank Lampard has never won a home game against Southampton in all competitions as a manager (D2 L2), with his teams conceding at least twice in all four games.

• Southampton have lost eight of their last 10 league games against teams who have 70+ points in the table before the game (W1 D1), with their one win coming away at 90-point Leeds on the final day of the 2023-24 season (2-1).

• Coventry are unbeaten in 12:30pm Championship kick-offs this season (W7 D3), while Southampton have only lost one of six 12:30pm games (W3 D2).

Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante says the Championship leaders have "nine finals" left on their path to Premier League promotion.

The Sky Blues continued their irresistible form on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Preston North End to notch a sixth straight victory.

Coupled with second-placed Middlesbrough's defeat by Charlton, the result eased Frank Lampard's side eight points clear at the top with nine games remaining.

Their three goals - the second scored by Thomas-Asante - took Coventry's league tally so far this season to 77, the highest in England's top four divisions and 13 more than the Championship's next most prolific side, Ipswich Town.

"It's good to hear," Thomas-Asante told BBC CWR.

"We came out of the blocks [at the start of the season], but obviously we've been through tough parts of the season as well so we know there's only one way to get the results you need and it's to step into every game knowing you have to earn it."

After their Wembley play-off final defeat on penalties in 2022-23 and last season's heartache in the semi-finals, Coventry are edging closer to finally returning to the top flight after 25 years away.

But Thomas-Asante, whose goal against Preston was his 11th of the season but first since November, knows the run-in will be a real challenge.

"No one's going to give it to you in this league," he said.

"There's quality teams all over, all up and down the league so it's going to be nine finals and we have to really treat it as such.

"[We need to] make sure that we're prepared. I think the mentality through the group is really top.

"It's good to get back on the scoresheet and hopefully I can end the season as strong as I started it."