Maybe Frank Lampard and Coventry can achieve Premier League survival. The club’s first top-division win since April 2001 was celebrated rapturously, victory an object lesson in unsettling opponents for whom confidence can waver. Jay Dasilva’s excellent goal was built on the foundations laid by a battling defensive performance that must be replicated on a weekly basis.
Coventry, dogged throughout, blunted Nottingham Forest’s creativity, though could thank a late video assistant referee call that enraged the City Ground crowd. Lampard declared, with his broadest grin: “I feel great, I feel amazing.” Next, as is his way, back to serious business. Whatever happens, their fans, under the weakening, early-evening sun, were determined to enjoy themselves.
Even if it’s for a single season, why not make the most of things? The previous week’s victory at Aston Villa offered further confirmation of Morgan Gibbs-White’s importance to Forest, as if it were needed. He remains ignored by Thomas Tuchel despite verifiable claims of being the most in-form English No 10 around, only Pascal Gross creating more chances in the Premier League this season, though like his team as a whole, Gibbs-White is doing his best work away from West Bridgford.
Forest hit 26 shots on Coventry’s goal, just three on target. When we conceded the goal, everyone was nervous, the entire ground was nervous and I think the reason is last year.” An early deft header to Liam Delap and a cogent flick to James McAtee had suggested Gibbs-White was in the mood but Forest never found the momentum to crack Coventry’s defensive shield. McAtee’s talents have never quite found their position but playing deeper as Gibbs-White’s creative partner has suited him.
However, the duo were far less in tune than the previous week. Delap has shown signs of being the player glimpsed at Ipswich but was another lost in heavy traffic, Forest reduced to potshots such as his snapshot wide. Coventry’s kick-off for the second half saw their players line up in a formation resembling that for a rugby union dropout.
It achieved little but previewed the long-ball tactics that brought about the breaking of their 25-year duck. Loum Tchaouna, a half-time arrival, cutting inside to shoot, if too weakly to beat Matz Sels, might have served as a further warning to Forest, as within moments, Dasilva, showing admirable strength for someone of such diminutive dimensions and a beautiful first touch to beat Daniel Muñoz, blazed to a diagonal ball from his goalkeeper, Carl Rushworth. The finish was just as adept, the celebrations deafening.
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