FRANK Lampard explained the reasons behind his decision to change formation in Coventry City’s midweek win at Portsmouth.
Lampard opted to play a back three with wing-backs at Fratton Park in change from his side’s usual four at the back system.
Coventry adapted well to the change to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 matches and remain top of the Championship table.
A brace from Brandon Thomas-Asante put the Sky Blues in command before Makenzie Kirk netted a consolation for Portsmouth in injury time.
And Lampard admits he needed to rotate some of his forward players which led to his decision to change system.
Lampard said: “It was [comfortable] until the last minute and a half, it’s a really tough place to come.
“We felt the pain last year coming here but the attitude of the players was great because we changed system.
“When you’re winning games, a change of system might seem a strange thing to do.
“With the personnel in our squad in terms of the attacking players, Haji has been to America and back.
“Tatsu and Ephron [Mason-Clark] we have to work with their minutes. It wasn’t a defensive mindset of a back five.
“It was more, can we be a back three? What problems can we give them on the sides of the pitch? Can we counter attack really well?
“The team took on all the information great so big credit to all the players.”
Thomas-Asante’s brace saw the forward move joint top of the Championship scoring charts alongside teammate Haji Wright.
Lampard heaped praise on match-winner Thomas-Asante for his versatility and also believes the forward has taken his performances to the next level.
Lampard added: “He is [on an extraordinary run] and it’s all credit to him.
“He works so hard, he’s got so much good energy, you move him around and nothing changes.
“He’s effective in the 10, on the sides, up front, his pressing is great and his work ethic.
“You can see his talent, the baseline is the talent, what he’s doing to maximise that at the minute is getting him big results.
“He needs to keep going. He’s taken himself to a level of player now where people are talking about him because he’s doing it so regularly.”
Coventry are next in action against Watford on Saturday, October 25 with kick-off at 12.30pm at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
