The “criminal” Frank Lampard decision that still haunts Derby County - Coventry City will hope he’s learned his lesson | OneFootball

One tactical decision may have cost Frank Lampard promotion at Derby County, and Coventry City fans will be hoping it doesn't happen again

Frank Lampard has been through more than the average manager has to go through in their first decade of management, and he still has three years before he even hits 10 years!

There hasn't been a season without pressure or expectation for the former Chelsea legend, having gone through play-off campaigns in the Championship, to relegation battles and also Champions League finishes in the Premier League.

Those experiences have, however, helped him grow and develop into a well-rounded boss, and while it may seem like it was back to square one when he took over Coventry City, five years and two Premier League jobs after he left Derby County, you get the idea that Lampard is well-set to go one further than he did with the Rams.

Indeed, Lampard's sole campaign at Pride Park ended at Wembley, after a dramatic season which had peaked with a 4-2 comeback win in the play-off semi-finals away at Leeds United.

However, some questionable tactical decisions on the day of the play-off final led to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa, decisions which still frustrate Derby fans to this day.

Now back in a similar position with Coventry, Sky Blues fans will be hoping that their manager has learned from his mistakes if the side does make it to a play-off final once more.

Frank Lampard's personnel mishap in the 2019 play-off final

Derby's route to the play-off final in the 2018/19 campaign was dramatic to say the least. After losing the first leg of their semi-final at home to Leeds, Lampard's side, despite going 1-0 down on the day, too, managed to beat Marcelo Bielsa's side 4-3 on aggregate to get to Wembley.

On the day of their famous Elland Road win, Jack Marriott was the hero.

He came on with minutes left in the first half for Duane Holmes, before capitalising on a defensive mix-up between Kiko Casilla and Liam Cooper to start their comeback, which he bookended with the winner five minutes from time.

Despite the form he was in, though, Lampard still opted for Mason Bennett up front for the play-off final, who had scored just three times all season. Speaking to Football League World last year, Rams' fan pundit Shaun Woodward called it "criminal," and said that the decision still frustrates him to this day.

"Especially, after what Marriott did against Leeds in the semi-final when he came on, to not start him...and then, funnily enough, when he does bring him on, as he did in the semi-final, he scores a goal and looks brilliant."

Indeed, Marriott replaced Tom Huddlestone just past the hour mark, but ultimately, his goal nine minutes from time couldn't spark a comeback similar to the one seen at Elland Road before.

"We will never know what might have been, but to me, it was an absolutely crazy decision by Frank Lampard, and I would love to know what his thought process was behind that," Woodward concluded.

Coventry City will hope that a similar mistake doesn't happen again

Now Lampard is at Coventry, many Sky Blues fans will be hoping that this was just a mishap in what was the former England international's first big outing in his managerial career, and if he does end up back at Wembley with his current club, the same thing won't happen again.

The Sky Blues are one of the favourites to challenge at the top of the Championship this season, after Lampard shot them up the table and into the top six last term after taking over in late November.

Last year, they were felled by a late Dan Ballard winner in the play-off semi-finals against Sunderland, but this year, hopes are that the Sky Blues can go one better than the semi-finals, and even better, win the play-offs entirely.

That is, if they settle for a place outside the top two. Lampard had his side in top form throughout last season after he took over, and after a solid summer transfer window and a decent start to the current campaign, perhaps there won't need to be any team selection at Wembley for the former Derby boss next May.