FRANK Lampard praised his side’s ‘clinical’ finishing after Coventry City returned to the top of the table with victory against Middlesbrough.
A hat-trick from Haji Wright inspired the Sky Blues to victory with Riley McGree on target for the visitors at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
The result saw Coventry leapfrog Boro at the top of the Championship table with the Sky Blues one point clear at the division’s summit.
And Lampard has challenged his side to take their strong home form on the road with City preparing for successive away matches.
Lampard said: “It was a big performance from minute one all the way through in loads of different ways.
“The energy of the team was immense and the organisation of it. It’s a really difficult game against Boro.
“Our players gave everything and we got what we deserved.
“In games like this where it’s tight with two good teams going against each other it’s so important to be clinical in the right moments.
“It sounds simple but we haven’t been so clinical in the last period which leads to the results we’ve had at times. We scored at great times.
“It’s a great feeling and we just have to take it forward. Now we have to take this energy on the road.
“The reason we’re just top of the league from being a bit clear is our away form so we can’t get too excited.”
Coventry broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when Jack Rudoni played a ball into the path of Wright who reacted quickest to divert the ball past Sol Brynn from eight-yards out.
Wright doubled Coventry’s lead on 55 minutes when he ran onto Carl Rushworth’s long kick up the pitch and curled a first time shot into the right corner of the goal from the left side of the penalty area.
However, the visitors halved the deficit on 67 minutes as McGree lashed a loose ball into the top-right corner from 12-yards out after Joel Latibeaudiere blocked an initial shot.
Just 17 seconds after the restart, the Sky Blues won a penalty after Josh Eccles’ cross struck the outstretched arm of Matt Targett in the box.
And Wright duly completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 71 minutes with a confident finish into the bottom left corner despite Brynn diving the right way.
Lampard handed a first start to January signing Frank Onyeka in midfield while fellow new arrival Jahnoah Markelo made his Sky Blues debut from the bench.
And Lampard believes Nigeria international Onyeka showed signs of what he can bring to the team following an impressive display on debut.
Lampard added: “He was brilliant. It was a performance of power, winning the ball, quality and understanding when to jump and press.
“We saw what he was like in duels but also quality play. It was a massive performance from him.
“Then he gets a booking which is never a booking and then you’re on tenterhooks about it.
“He dealt with that situation well and it was an outstanding debut.
“To come from the Premier League into this level of game so quickly in his career here was a great sign.”
Coventry are next in action against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, February 21 with kick-off at 12.30pm at the Hawthorns.
