FORMER Premier League manager Tony Pulis believes Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard has ‘built a rod for his own back’ after guiding the Sky Blues to the play-offs last season.
Lampard transformed City’s season following his appointment at the Coventry Building Society Arena last November.
He guided Coventry from 17th in the table up to fifth and a place in the Championship play-offs.
However, City’s season ended in a cruel play-off semi-final defeat against Sunderland after extra time.
Pulis twice won promotion during his managerial career with Stoke City and Gillingham.
And Pulis admits Lampard has a challenge on his hands to improve on Coventry’s fifth-place finish this season.
Pulis told sports betting site BetVictor: “Frank Lampard has built a rod for his own back almost because he’s got to do better than what he did last year which was incredible.
“Coventry City under first Mark Robins and now Frank have taken so many steps forward and it’s been fantastic to watch. It’ll be interesting this year because he’s starting fresh.
“I think the league will be a bit stronger this year. Wrexham obviously will spend and Birmingham will spend so I can’t honestly say that it’s going to be an easy ride, but they’ve got a good squad.
“They’ve got the squad and they’ve got the players who can go into any game and win any game.
“And that’s against the teams that have been relegated from the Premier League as well as teams that have been promoted.
“So they’ve got as good a chance as anyone else.”
