Frank Lampard issues new Coventry City warning after Middlesbrough triumph | OneFootball

Frank Lampard has urged his Coventry side not to get complacent following victory over Middlesbrough

Coventry City launched themselves back to the summit of the EFL Championship table on Monday night after a huge 3-1 victory over title rivals Middlesbrough, though head coach Frank Lampard has warned his side not to get too carried away just yet.

Having spent the majority of the campaign in top spot, Coventry slipped into 2nd place, briefly being replaced by Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough after the Sky Blues suffered an uncharacteristic drop off in form.

Coventry prevailed as 4-2 winners in the reverse fixture at The Riverside, and were looking to inflict similar damage on Monday night at the CBS Arena when Boro travelled to their stomping ground.

Indeed, that would be the case, with Riley McGree’s strike cancelled out by a hat-trick by Haji Wright to secure a 3-1 victory for Lampard’s side and all three points, overtaking their opponents in the process.

However, despite what could prove to be a season-defining victory for the Sky Blues, Lampard has warned his side not to down tools just yet, with the job still far from done.

Frank Lampard has urged his Coventry City side not to ‘lull’ following victory over Middlesbrough

Monday night's 3-1 win over Boro may well prove to be a pivotal moment in Coventry’s season, providing the Sky Blues with the platform to hit another rich vein of form to go on and secure automatic promotion.

This result means Coventry returns to the top of the table by one point with 14 games left to go, with the race for automatic promotion heating up, as the likes of Millwall, Ipswich Town, and Hull City closely chase.

Though Lampard was quick to send a message to his side following the victory in his post-match interview, urging them to remain focused and reminding them that their objective is far from secured, and if they don’t go and back this latest win up, it could mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Lampard said, “We spoke a bit before about that there’s been some nerves lately through the club, and I think maybe we haven’t been in this position for a long time, so maybe it’s normal, maybe this was a little check for everybody, maybe not the worst check - this is football.

“As long as we react like that, the way we played. As I say, to a man, the energy, the output of the game, and it had to be, was really big, and I’m delighted for the lads.

“But, we can’t over-celebrate, because it’s the Championship, right? If we go now and lull, then this won’t matter so much, so that’s the message after that one.”

Coventry won just two out of their last eight league games prior to Monday’s victory over Middlesbrough, which they will now be hoping was just a mere blip in what will prove to be a historical season for the club.

To go up automatically, a side simply cannot undergo too many bad runs of form as Coventry did. Lampard, of all people, will be more than aware of what it takes to win a title from his time with Chelsea, and he will be hoping his side now has all the confidence and belief it needs to go on and win the league.

Coventry City have no time for complacency following Middlesbrough's win

Coventry’s title push starts now, as with 14 games remaining, they must give everything they have got to go on and achieve their ultimate objective.

A victory as big as their one over Middlesbrough could see a hint of complacency creep into their performances, but Lampard has been quick to ensure that that doesn’t happen in his interview.

Two tricky away trips to West Brom and Sheffield United are up next for the Sky Blues, with their next home game coming at the end of the month against Stoke City and former boss Mark Robins.

Robins was just a penalty shootout away against Luton Town from achieving promotion to the Premier League with Coventry, having taken them from the depths of League Two to a few kicks away from the top flight.

Lampard will be hoping to do what Robins couldn’t and guide Coventry to the Premier League, though he must ensure that his message gets through to his squad to provide them with the best possible chance of going on and achieving their objective.