Coventry City boss Frank Lampard was critical of the errors which cost his side in their FA Cup round four defeat to Ipswich Town on Saturday, and claimed that he didn’t see a difference in quality between the Sky Blues and the Tractor Boys on the pitch.

 

Despite being pleased with his side’s overall performance, Lampard was frustrated by a number of key errors which left his side wondering what could have been.

 

The Sky Blues gave the Premier League outfit a helping hand on three of their goals in the visitors’ 4-1 victory, bringing an end to their attempts to replicate last season’s remarkable run to the semi-finals.

 

With their cup dreams over for another year, Coventry return to Championship action as early as Tuesday night, when QPR make the trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena.

 

Frank Lampard makes Coventry City, Ipswich Town performance claim

 

Saturday’s loss was a frustrating one forCoventryin that, for a few key moments in the game, they became architects of their own downfall.

They found themselves a goal down in just the second minute of the cup tie, after they gave the ball away from their own kick-off at the start of the game.

 

Despite the errors leaving something of a bitter taste for Lampard, he was pleased with the endeavour shown by his side for the most part, against top flight opposition.

 

Speaking after the defeat, Lampard said: “I thought the performance was ok. I thought it was a competitive game against a Premier League team.

 

“I think we probably edged the possession, and chances, maybe we edged it overall. They had better chances, which were predominantly from errors and mistakes from us, which is disappointing. Other than that, I don’t think the scoreline really reflects the game. It’s just a reality for us and that’s how I see it.

 

“You look at the game and there was some good stuff from us. The way we came out in the second half and kept pushing.

 

“There were a couple of defensive errors but other than that, it’s probably the clinical nature of them at the top end of the pitch compared to us is a bit different. Other than that, there’s not so much I can complain about really.”

 

Lampard was also keen to stress that he didn’t feel there was a gulf in quality between the two teams, despite the visitors playing at a higher level than his Coventry side.

 

“They’re a team who were really strong in the league last year and are now competing in the Premier League, but I didn’t see that difference in the game, personally, other than the scoreline,” Lampard added.

 

“Again, I am not stupid and that’s the reality of it, but big parts of the game I think we can take forward positively.

 

“We must, as always, look at the errors because some of them I really don’t like, but it is what it is.”

 

 

Frank Lampard issues Coventry City transfer revelation

Coventry City will be disappointed at not being able to mount 2023/24-esque FA Cup run

With Saturday’s defeat bringing the Sky Blues’ cup dreams to a close for another season, their attention will turn back to the league for the remainder of the season.

 

Coventry are one of several sides who will surely harbour play-off ambitions, and their upturn in form under Lampard certainly has them in with a chance.

 

They now sit just four points behind Blackburn Rovers in the final top six spot and are among a big group of teams ready to pounce on the opportunity, should Rovers slip up.

 

Despite there being an exciting end to the season on the cards for the Midlands outfit, there will surely be a bit of disappointment that they have been unable to replicate their cup exploits from last season.

 

The second tier side enjoyed an extraordinary run that carried them all the way to the semi-finals last term.

 

Coventry City FA Cup Run 2023/24

 

Round 3

 

Oxford United (H) – Won 6-2

 

Round 4

 

Sheffield Wednesday (A) – Drew 1-1

 

Round 4 Replay

 

Sheffield Wednesday (H) – Won 4-1

 

Round 5

 

Maidstone United (H) – Won 5-0

 

Quarter-Final

 

Wolves (A) – Won 3-2

 

Semi-Final

 

 

 

A late comeback at Molineux saw them down Wolves in the quarter-final, setting up a tie with giants Manchester United under the Wembley arch.

 

The Sky Blues came from 3-0 down to force extra-time, before eventually losing on penalties in typically gut-wrenching fashion.

 

While the FA Cup is unlikely to have been a priority for Lampard and his men this season, there will surely be a feeling of disappointment that they haven’t had chance to re-live the heroics of 2023/24.

 

AFC Wimbledon’s newest recruit Osman Foyo certainly looks like a formidable prospect following his performances in the National League South for Chelmsford City in the first half of this season.

 

The forward has got pace to burn and seems to be powerful and strong too. However, Wimbledon will be his first step into full-time professional men’s football, and because of that, it may take him some time to get up to speed.

 

One of the last times the Dons took a gamble on a speedy winger, Dylan Connolly, it did not turn out too well for the club or the player. The hope is that lessons have been learned.

 

Dylan Connolly was a failure for AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon Dylan Connolly

Connolly joined the Dons as then-manager Wally Downes’ first signing and was seen as somewhat of a coup.

 

He joined the club from Irish side Dundalk, for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in the region of €35k, and had helped them win a league and cup double prior to joining up with the Dons.

 

So there was plenty of excitement about the promise that he could bring to the struggling team at that point in time, with the hope that his blistering pace and good goalscoring stats could carry over to the EFL.

 

However, after a few appearances on the bench, it was quite clear to see that there was some confusion over where Connolly would hopefully cement his spot in the team, and where exactly his best position was for the club.

 

Dylan Connolly AFC Wimbledon Stats, as per Transfermarkt

 

 

 

He had played on both flanks during the early stages of his career, but as Downes’ system did not really incorporate wingers, he was more or less used as a free-playing attacker that was simply on the pitch to terrify tiring opposition defences late on in games.

 

And while this was a mildly successful way of playing the Irishman, it meant that he very rarely got the chance to nail down a position. When, out of his 15 appearances, he was given a rare start, it was clear to see that his confidence had sunk due to not being allowed a great number of minutes.

 

It was due to this that, at the start of the following season, 2019/20, he was shipped out on loan to Bradford City. Clearly there were problems integrating him into the squad and entrusting him with more game time.

 

However, even at Valley Parade, he did not look to be developing any more than he had down south in London. He would score his first goal in English football while there, but it was clear this was more of a loan move to place the winger in the shop window than to develop him and bring him back a better player.

 

Frustratingly for Wimbledon fans, there was never an opportunity to see what Connolly could go on to do as player for the club after Downes had departed, as following his season at Bradford, which was interrupted by the global pandemic, he was released by the club with Glyn Hodges, the Dons’ new manager and part of Downes’ backroom team, clearly not keen on taking him back into the squad and working out a way to develop him into the promising player he looked like he could be when he first signed.

 

Connolly would go on to have underwhelming spells with Northampton Town and Morecambe, and an average season with St Mirren too, following his measly 15 appearances in yellow and blue.

 

He has not been seen on English shores since 2023, when he and Morecambe mutually decided to cancel his contract, as he instead decided to head back over to Ireland and has played for Bohemians, as well as Glentoran, where he has racked nearly 50 appearances across the two, but not scored a single goal.

 

What Johnnie Jackson needs to do to avoid repeated failure with Osman Foyo

Johnnie Jackson AFC Wimbledon

While it is very easy to say that, naturally, with different managers should come different ways of incorporating young and exciting players, there are still some things that need to be done by current boss Johnnie Jackson if he is to avoid repeating Connolly’s overall poor transfer and spell with the club with new man Foyo.

 

First and foremost, he needs to have a clear and direct plan for Foyo to allow both the player to develop and fulfill the promise seen in him, but also so that the club can reap the benefits in the short and long term.

 

If he wants to incorporate the youngster, who the Dons signed from Ipswich Town in the last week of the transfer window, then it will be best done by firstly giving him some gametime off the bench, but then also allowing him some starts in his most favourable position, to make sure that he displays his strongest talents, and not just his useful assets.

 

Most likely that will mean giving him some time to play upfront, presumably on the left-hand side of the Dons’ attacking trio, but in the future, he may also be crafted into an out-and-out striker that can be an extremely useful asset for the club, with both height and pace on his side.

 

That does, however, leave a question mark over where it leaves academy graduate Aron Sasu, who is seen, mainly by the fanbase, as one of the next big attacking prospects out of the academy, as the Norweigan youth international plays the same position as Foyo.

 

What’s important, is that the club learn from past mistakes and make sure that their Ipswich import gets a proper chance at Plough Lane.