How Coventry City achieved promotion to the Premier League as Frank Lampard has point to prove

It has been a long, old journey for Coventry City supporters, but finally, and deservedly, they can now look forward to watching their club in the Premier League once again.

The Sky Blues had been a top-flight outfit for nine years before they were relegated in 2001 and cannot have foreseen a journey that would take them to the depths of League Two and back again.

In that time, the club have had 16 managers, suffered three relegations and endured three play-off campaigns, but on Friday night, they clinched promotion from the Championship after a nervy 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

With Frank Lampard at the helm, the West Midlands side will be aiming to follow in Sunderland's - and likely Leeds United's - footsteps and achieve survival at the first attempt, but now, they must revel in their own success.

Here, DAZN News takes a closer look at Coventry's accomplishment and what to expect from them in the Premier League.

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Coventry City channelled play-off misery to reach Premier League

Coventry suffered heartbreak in its truest form last season when Dan Ballard's unorthodox header at the death sent Sunderland through to the play-off finals and subsequently to the top flight.

In truth, tremendous credit must go to Frank Lampard and his side for even reaching the top six last term, as they looked more likely to go down following Mark Robins' shock sacking earlier in the campaign.

However, the Chelsea legend was able to dust his team down and send them on an unstoppable mission to achieve promotion with three games to spare.

Remarkably, the Sky Blues went 23 games unbeaten at the start of the season, and by late December, they had built a 13-point lead over third place and an eight-point lead over second.

Of course, the campaign did not come without its struggles, as defeat to Ipswich Town triggered three successive losses and raised questions over whether Lampard's men had the bottle to get the job done.

The West Midlands outfit rallied, though, and although there have been bumps in the road, they have been far superior to their nearest challengers and thoroughly deserving of promotion.

Style of play and summer spending

As the Black Cats have shown, it is not about how much money you spend, but how you spend it, and Coventry will certainly have to be savvy in the market to strike some stellar deals.

Owner Doug King and head of recruitment Dean Austin must now butt their heads together and decide exactly what approach they will take to build a squad capable of competing in the Premier League.

“Leeds went up as champions last season and did it a different way," King told Coventry Live in late March.

"They did some changes but they still have recognisable players who were in the Championship who play for Leeds today.

“Sunderland finished third last year after having quite a big fall off at the end of the season into the play-offs. I think they got 75/76 points, something like that, and obviously, they felt that they had to do a bit more, widespread creation of a football team.

“So everybody’s got to look at their situation, and only they will know their players and what they’re trying to achieve, and we’ll do a similar thing.”

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The Sky Blues already possess quality players in Jack Rudoni and Bobby Thomas, while they have a decision to make on Brighton loanee Carl Rushworth, who was among the nominees for Championship Player of the Season.

Lampard's men are the division's highest scorers and are a high-energy, direct side who have drawn comparisons to Bournemouth and Brentford, but replicating that feat in the top flight will be a challenge.

Frank Lampard has Premier League point to prove

Not only will Coventry be on a mission to prove that they belong in the Premier League, but Lampard will also be hellbent on showing that he can manage at the highest level.

The 47-year-old's first and longest stint in the top tier was when he managed former club Chelsea between 2019 and 2021, and while he did produce some admirable results, doubts remained over his ability to challenge for the highest honours.

Lampard was given another bite of the top flight by Everton, where he lasted just 44 matches, averaging a point per game, although he would argue that they were a club in crisis during his tenure.

A return to Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager could not have gone any worse, as he lost eight of his 11 matches in charge, notching just one win, but now he has the opportunity to silence his doubters in a different situation.

The former midfielder has flourished in the Championship, and this will be his first venture in the Premier League with a newly promoted team, with an opportunity to build a side ahead of the season.

Naturally, some are predicting that he will utilise connections with Chelsea to land some eye-catching loan deals, and he may have a greater pull than other managers, given his illustrious career.

It is fair to say that the jury is still out on Lampard in the top flight, but if he can keep Coventry up next term, then he would surely prove his Premier League credentials.

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