Coventry’s second-half improvement in win at Wednesday impresses Frank Lampard

Coventry boss Frank Lampard was pleased to see an improved second-half performance from his team which saw them complete a 5-0 Championship victory at Sheffield Wednesday and move to the top of the table.

Brandon Thomas-Asante scored twice in the first half with Haji Wright adding a third on the stroke of half-time.

Substitute Ellis Simms and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto added further goals in the second period to complete a comprehensive victory.

There was an on-the-pitch demonstration from a group of home supporters early on, protesting against owner Dejphon Chansiri, which delayed the match for around five minutes.

Lampard said: “Professionally, the early goal helped, but it made us a bit sloppy through the first half, in my opinion.

“I think we weren’t quite at our usual selves off the ball. Little bits that we had to talk about at half-time.

“But of course, when you get your goals and we create the amount of chances that we do, then at the moment, the form that we’re in, you’ve got a great chance of winning games.

“It’s a period where we’re playing well. All the work that we do is coming together. It won’t always be that way, but at this point, yeah, we’re very clinical in front of goal.

“We’re creating a lot of chances and four clean sheets is obviously great for us because the early games, we were conceding a lot.”

Commenting on the issues affecting Wednesday which led to the on-pitch protest, Lampard added: “I very much sympathise with them.

“I think they’re doing great in the way they’re carrying themselves and even the fans come on the pitch, my opinion, but I think it’s understandable and they came off the pitch quickly. I want to say that because this is a great club.”

Wednesday manager Henrik Pederson admitted it had been a very difficult game for his team.

He said: “Yes, a tough afternoon against a very, very good team from Coventry.

“We gave ourselves a difficult beginning. Three times we have clearings where we could clear forward and to give ourselves this beginning after three minutes is tough.

“The morale in the team and the belief in the team was intact. I think we had a really good period and we were strong on the ball and we also had more opportunities, but we don’t have the same clinical effect as when Coventry get the chances.

“They don’t create much against us in these phases of the game and the second goal, we’re winning the ball.

“It was a good protective goal. We win the ball, we try to play out, then we lose the ball – and then we are coming back again.

“Then the third goal, it was set-pieces. What I can see, a clear offside goal and this third goal takes the belief out of the boys. To be 3-0 down against Coventry, of course it’s a difficult situation after a tough, tough period.”

Commenting on the protest from supporters, Pedersen added: “I understand when the fans have a process and I’m just happy that it didn’t take longer before we could start the game again, so I don’t think it had much influence for our game.

“I think the players handled this very calm and we were ready again when the game started.”