Coventry City hit the jackpot with double transfer - it's impacting 2 players in Frank Lampard's squad negatively | OneFootball

Coventry City completed the signings of former Barnsley defenders Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching in the summer of 2023

Coventry City signed Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching in the summer of 2023 after the duo had impressed in League One with Barnsley the season prior, and have since formed a formidable partnership in the heart of the Sky Blues' defence.

Coventry currently top the Championship table after ten matches, with six wins and four draws putting them on 22 points, one above Middlesbrough in second and four above Stoke City in third.

The Sky Blues have deservedly earned plaudits for their goalscoring form in the early stages of this season, having netted 29 times already, 12 more than second-best Hull City, with a positive goal difference of 22, 15 better than second-best Middlesbrough.

Since taking over from Mark Robins in November 2024, head coach Frank Lampard has got his side ticking at the top end of the pitch, but what has gone slightly under the radar is their defensive record.

Having only conceded seven goals in 10 matches, this gives them the second-best defensive record in the Championship and the entire EFL, behind only Stoke, who have conceded just six.

At the heart of defence in each of Coventry's league fixtures this season has been the duo of Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching, who both signed for the club in the summer of 2023, having enjoyed a successful campaign on loan at Barnsley in League One the season prior.

Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching have become the outstanding centre-back pairing under Frank Lampard at Coventry City

Thomas joined Coventry from Burnley for around £2million, having played the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan with Barnsley after spending the first half with Bristol Rovers.

Kitching, meanwhile, was permanently contracted to Barnsley before joining Coventry for a reported £4.5 million, in what was the highest fee the club had ever paid for a centre-back.

The duo were predominantly utilised in a back three system whilst together at Barnsley, usually alongside Mads Andersen or Tom Edwards, and reached the play-off final where they eventually succumbed to defeat against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley.

The pair would reunite at the CBS Arena just a matter of months later, and whilst Thomas would slot straight into Robins' back three system alongside Kyle McFadzean and Luis Binks, it would take a little longer for Kitching to establish himself in the back line.

Thomas would play 44 league matches in his first season as a Sky Blue, whilst Kitching played only 28. The following season was more of the same, even after Lampard came in, with Thomas retaining his place in the back line, with Kitching competing with Binks for a place in the lineup.

Binks would leave the club this summer for Danish side Brondby, paving the way for Kitching to claim the starting berth beside Thomas as his own, and the duo have started each of Coventry's ten Championship matches so far this season.

Having kept five clean sheets in consecutive matches against Leicester City, Birmingham City, Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers, Thomas and Kitching have formed one of the best pairings in the second tier, with Barnsley having witnessed it first.

With the form of Thomas and Kitching, this has left both summer signings Luke Woolfenden and Joel Latibeaudiere out in the cold.

Woolfenden has made just two appearances for Coventry thus far since his summer move from Ipswich Town for £4 million, both from the bench, whilst Latibeaudiere has appeared on the bench just once without making an appearance.

Barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances, it's unlikely that either will break into Lampard's starting eleven in the near future, given the form of Thomas and Kitching.

Woolfenden had been a regular at Portman Road for Ipswich since 2019, even making 15 appearances in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys just last season, but as of now, he can only earn a place on the bench for Coventry.

With the season not even being a quarter of the way through yet, there is still ample time for Coventry's back line to shuffle around, but as of now, that appears to be highly unlikely.