Coventry City

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League resumes this weekend so can Coventry City pick up from where they left off when they host Newcastle United?

It was a difficult start to the campaign for the Sky Blues, who shipped 10 goals in four consecutive defeats. But Coventry went into the break feeling positive following a defiant win at Nottingham Forest, in which left-back Jay Dasilva scored their first goal of the campaign.

Frank Lampard and the rest of his coaching staff will have inevitably spent the last three weeks working on the next round of five fixtures that take place before November's shorter international break.

The first test is Newcastle, who have not only made a strong start to the campaign under new boss Matthias Jaissle, but carry a strong record against the Sky Blues.

Coventry have lost seven of their past eight league games against the Magpies, including the past five in a row - though this is the first time the two sides will have faced one another since 2009-10 in the Championship.

Chris Coleman was in charge then and Leon Best, Clinton Morrison and Freddie Eastwood all featured against Chris Hughton's Newcastle.

In comparison, Lampard has a much better professional record against Newcastle.

Only against Crystal Palace has Coventry's boss won more Premier League games as a manager than he has versus Newcastle. Meanwhile, as a player, Lampard won 16 Premier League matches against the Magpies, only winning more against Sunderland (19) and Tottenham (18).

And although the Coventry Building Society Arena will be a new ground for the majority of Jaissle's team, it will be a familiar return for Jacob Murphy.

The Newcastle winger spent the 2015-16 on loan with the Sky Blues in League One, scoring nine goals in 40 appearances for a team widely considered to have under-performed under Tony Mowbray.

He has gone on to make 223 Premier League appearances for Newcastle.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.

If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).

Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.

The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.

The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.

While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.

Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.

Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.

Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.

The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.

The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.

While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.

Read the piece in full here

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist

Coventry boss Frank Lampard has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Newcastle United at CBS Arena (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference or you can listen to him speak on BBC CWR:

• Lampard said there are no injury concerns for the players returning from international duty. Defenders Milan van Ewijk and Kaine Kesler-Hayden have returned to training.

• Josh Eccles "will still be a few more weeks potentially", said Lampard. Haji Wright and Luke Woolfenden will be out for a little bit longer.

• He said it was a "relief" to get their first win against Nottingham Forest, adding: "It was really a real pleasure as it sunk in for the players to feel that feeling of winning a Premier League game. I have to understand why [for] the players that's a big deal for them so as long as we remember all the reasons why they got there and keep doubling down on all the work we're talking about and what we do, then it's good."

• Lampard said he has seen progression in his team but he is "not overly satisfied" as he does not like winning one game out of five. He added: "There will be things that they will naturally learn as they go and my job is to be there to support them and understand if they keep going, keep working, belief will grow with that."

• On his former club Manchester City, where he played in 2014-15, and their guilty verdict: "We've all seen the news, it's obviously big news, Man City are appealing. What can you say when an appeal is going on? I'm not inside the story, I'm outside it completely. I played for Man City a long time ago now, for one year. We'll wait and see what the result of the appeal is and onwards. I don't know the timelines at all."

• He said the support from Coventry fans has been "incredible" and explained the two-way street between his side and the fans means they are desperate to bring joy to supporters: "It's pretty unique because it is a support base that have lived unique circumstances of going down the leagues and coming back and now we're in this moment and we rely on them. Things are tougher now so we need them more than ever and they'll be there."

• On Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle: "I've seen elements of what he's trying to bring and how he speaks about what he wants to bring, the style that he wants to show with his team. I wish him well in the job because he's a young manager and his job is challenging and there's a lot of opinion and a lot of scrutiny in what we all do."

Hit play above to hear more from Lampard, speaking to BBC CWR's Will Oelrich, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Coventry City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth says he and his team-mates are ready to "kick on" after earning their first three points of the season before the extended international break.

The Sky Blues get back under way on Monday against Newcastle at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Reflecting on the opening five games of the campaign, Rushworth told BBC CWR: "Going into every game we have had the same confidence and belief. That's been building and building as the games have gone on.

"We've had the opportunities to score goals, but the level and standard is just higher. It's ruthless.

"It's quicker so if you give the opposition an opportunity then they will take it.

"Everyone is looking forward to Monday under the lights against Newcastle. It's the perfect time for us to play this type of game at home, so I'm really excited for that.

"The fans give us an extra boost. We want to perform for them as they've had our back this season.

"We needed to bounce back and give them what they've been giving us. I'm glad that we were able to do that at Nottingham Forest and that's the starting point for us."

Listen to Rushworth's interview by hitting play below or on BBC Sounds here

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A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.

An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.

However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.

There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.

Read more on what rival clubs want

BBC CWR's Will Oelrich is joined by Coventry City fans Conna and Andy for the latest Sky Blues Fancast.

They discuss whether Frank Lampard will stick with a back five against Newcastle United or switch back to a four with it being a home fixture.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Coventry City page to get all Sky Blues audio content.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

On the eve of the new season, head coach Frank Lampard identified physicality as a "big part" of what promoted Coventry City would need to be competitive in the Premier League. The early numbers, however, suggest his side have struggled to match the running power of their top-flight opponents.

The Sky Blues rank second last for total distance covered and distance sprinted, and third bottom for distance run at high speed and number of sprints.

They are averaging only 39% possession but, despite seeing so little of the ball, have won significantly fewer tackles than any other team, with their tally of 26 well below the league average of 45.

Coventry did, however, outrun and outsprint Nottingham Forest as they won their final game before the international break, suggesting they may be gradually adapting to the physical demands of the top flight.

The fixture list has not been kind so far, with Lampard's men already having faced Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton, the current top three.

October brings more favourable matches at home to Newcastle, Fulham and Sunderland, plus a trip to winless Tottenham, giving Coventry the chance to build on the momentum of their victory at the City Ground.

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BBC Sport fan contributor Conna Chahal believes Coventry "will stay up in the Premier League this season" after they beat Nottingham Forest before the international break to secure their first win.

He said: "The way the boys battled [against Nottingham Forest] proved to me exactly what I thought at the start of the season.

"I truly believe we will stay up in the Premier League this season. The way that we have grown into this season, I think the international break came at, maybe you could argue, a bad time for us. Could we have built on that momentum?

"I'm actually very confident about the way this season has gone and that sounds crazy to say with three points from five games, but those next five games after the international break, I think we're building something.

"If we could just get something against Newcastle in that first game [after the break] the momentum will be there and I will be a very happy man."

Listen to more from Chahal by hitting play below or on BBC Sounds here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, PFA

The scene resembles an Oxbridge graduation ceremony, but those gathered in caps and gowns are in fact Premier League footballers, or former players, who have won major honours in Europe and around the world.

The 2026 cohort of graduates from the PFA Business School include Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, among a host of other well-known figures.

The assembled players are potential leaders in football's future. The graduates certainly appear no different from anyone else celebrating an academic achievement, exhibiting their pride.

Awoniyi, who joined Coventry City from Nottingham Forest this summer, remains part of Nigeria's squad as they attempt to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

But the 29-year-old striker has continued his studies throughout his playing career.

"I've got a degree in business management and another diploma, so this is my third qualification," he told BBC Sport.

Awoniyi's father, Solomon, has previously spoken about his strict approach to education. At times it almost prevented his son from pursuing a career in football, but he still progressed from the Imperial Soccer Academy to Liverpool before making his name in German football with Union Berlin.

"I say to people I'm a quiet dreamer," said Awoniyi, who brought members of his extended family to the ceremony. "I always felt education was important. It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying.

"That is what I've done and I am proud of it."

Awoniyi points to the "ups and downs" he has experienced as a footballer, referencing the serious injury he suffered in May 2025 when he was placed in a medically induced coma after rupturing an intestine in a collision with a goalpost when playing for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City.

To him, it is important to keep improving and to recognise there is more to life than football, which is where the Professional Footballers' Association course comes in.

Awoniyi added: "It's not like a 9-5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it is challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school.

"Of course it demands a lot from you, so it is all about how willing you are to do it.

"I say to people there are a lot of things that are bigger than football. Yes, football is our passion but we are normal human beings as well - and maybe that's something the world doesn't always see."

The course is designed to run alongside a football career. For example, seminars are scheduled to minimise clashes with matches and training sessions, and players are also allowed to study in their own time.

For now, Awoniyi remains focused on playing football - but among this year's graduates might be future coaches, executives and sporting directors who go on to influence the game in different ways.

Read the full article here

After a long summer transfer saga with Brighton, Coventry City sealed the deal for their promotion-winning goalkeeper Carl Rushworth for a reported £22m fee.

However, after the opening five games of the Premier League season, BBC CWR presenter Will Oelrich believes some fans are "questioning Rushworth's ability."

After four losses and 10 goals conceded, the "step-up" has proved to be harder than anticipated for some players in Frank Lampard's team.

Coventry fan Ben Taylor said: "He has never played in the Premier League before.

"It is a massive step-up.

"Even Brighton, the way they press and attack, you think with professional sport that there can't be a big difference between the two leagues [Premier League and Championship].

"The difference is massive."

The 25-year-old was at Brighton for seven years, but he never featured in a Premier League game for the Seagulls.

"In periods against Arsenal and Brighton, they can compete at this level. It is about mindset and concentration," added Taylor.

Although Rushworth and Coventry's start to life in the Premier League was far from what they would have hoped for, there is a more positive feeling within the Coventry fanbase after they picked up their first win and clean sheet in the top flight against Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Sky Blues fan Ben Wise said: "It is a case of learning.

"I don't think the squad they built over the summer was to play five at the back. I think we're going have to be interchangeable with our formation and our squad.

"Frank is learning and he is adapting."

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Coventry City page to get all Sky Blues audio content.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.

This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.

I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.

The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.

I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.

I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.

The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.

That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.

‌Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.

‌However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".

‌Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".

‌The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.

‌You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

BBC CWR's Will Oelrich is joined by fans Ben Taylor and Ben Wise as they discuss all things Coventry City.

There's debate on Carl Rushworth, discussion on whether alcohol should be allowed in stadiums and plenty on the Premier League season so far.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and subscribe to the dedicated Coventry City page to get all Sky Blues audio content.

In the final part of our special Q&A, BBC CWR Coventry City reporter Will Oelrich discusses this season's aim and if there's any scope for the Coventry Building Society Arena to have a capacity increase in the future.

Darren asked: Other than just saying "survival", how many points are Coventry aiming to achieve this season? What's the target?

Will: I think Coventry City's objective this campaign is pretty straightforward - stay in the Premier League.

Whether survival is secured comfortably with games to spare or goes right down to the final day, everyone connected with the club would take a 17th-place finish or higher if it guarantees another season in the top flight.

Of course, conversations around targets will have taken place between chairman Doug King and Frank Lampard before the campaign, but the overriding aim remains the same. Establishing Coventry City as a Premier League club is the priority, and maintaining their status in the division is far more important than a specific points tally or league position.

If the Sky Blues can achieve survival this term, it would represent another significant step in the club's journey and provide a platform to build on in future years.

Image source, Getty Images

Dennis asked: If required could the capacity of the CBS Arena be increased?

Will: It's difficult to say with any certainty, but my feeling would be that a stadium expansion is unlikely in the short term because of the way the CBS Arena is currently designed.

Any significant increase in capacity could require major redevelopment work, which would bring both logistical and financial challenges. From the outside, it does not appear to be a straightforward project.

That said, if Coventry City continue to sell out home matches and establish themselves in the Premier League, it's certainly a conversation that could gather momentum.

Chairman Doug King has made no secret of his ambitions for the club, and if attendances remain high over a prolonged period, I'm sure all options would be considered. At the moment, though, the focus is likely to be on cementing Coventry City's place in the Premier League rather than pursuing any major redevelopment of the stadium.

Find the first part of the special Q&A on the Coventry page

Listen to Sky Blues Fancast Live every Monday and Friday at 18:00 and subscribe to the Coventry City page on BBC Sounds

We asked you to send in your questions for BBC CWR Coventry reporter Will Oelrich to answer. In the first part of a special Q&A, he addresses Haji Wright's contract and working on player combinations in the extended international break.

Richard asked: Is there any more clarity on when we will see Haji Wright back and what his contract situation is?

Will: Haji Wright is currently expected to return by the end of October, provided there are no setbacks in his recovery, and he would undoubtedly give Coventry City an extra attacking option heading into a busy period of the season.

As things stand, Wright's contract is due to expire in the summer of 2027, meaning he will soon be coming to the end of his Coventry City contract. That inevitably raises questions about his long-term future at the club.

Coventry may face a decision over whether to pursue a contract extension or consider offers in the transfer market, particularly as clubs are often reluctant to risk losing valuable assets for nothing. With Taiwo Awoniyi and Sidiki Cherif arriving this summer, there is already increased competition in the forward areas.

While it would be no surprise if interest emerged in Wright during the January transfer window, his immediate focus will be on regaining full fitness and getting back up to match-speed after his injury lay-off. Should he return as expected, the Sky Blues could benefit from having his experience and quality available during November and December before any decisions are made about his future.

Image source, Getty Images

Ian asked: I have heard that we will have only one behind-closed-doors friendly match during the international break. My question is, given the number of new players, will this be enough to assess all the potentially different combinations of formations?

Will: The international break should provide a valuable opportunity for Coventry City to work on different formations, refine their shape and strengthen relationships across the team. While eight players are away on international duty, many of them are regular starters, which inevitably limits how much work Frank Lampard can do with his full squad in the short term.

However, once those players return, there will be plenty of time to put those ideas into practice. The behind-closed-doors fixture - scheduled a week before the trip to Newcastle United on 12 October - comes at an ideal time and should give Lampard a chance to work with a near full-strength group.

It will also be an important opportunity for players returning from injury to build fitness and sharpness. With a rare large period on the training ground, Lampard is likely to use the break to ensure his squad is as prepared as possible for the challenges ahead.

Keep across this page for part two of Monday's Q&A, which will look at this seasons aim and the Coventry Building Society Arena capacity.

Coventry City have three points from the opening five games of the 2026-27 Premier League season and sit 18th in the table.

The Sky Blues had a tricky start to the season, but went into the international break on a high after earning their first points of the campaign at Nottingham Forest as Jay Dasilva also scored their first top-flight goal in over 25 years.

Head coach Frank Lampard has shown he is willing to adapt his gameplan and structure each match, switching to a back five, as well starting different attacking partnerships.

There is lots to discuss, so BBC CWR reporter Will Oelrich will be on hand to answer a selection of your questions next week.

What do you want to know about the Sky Blues right now?

Get in touch with your question here

Listen to Sky Blues Fancast Live every Monday and Friday at 18:00 and subscribe to the Coventry City page on BBC Sounds

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We asked you to rate Coventry City's start to the 2026-27 season and to tell us what Frank Lampard should be concentrating on in the extended three-week break.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: It has been deceptively positive. Other than a difficult period with 10 men against Brighton, we've looked competitive and relatively solid at the back. We just need the rub of the green a bit more, like in the Nottingham Forest game. If the wind blows our way, we stand a chance of staying in this division.

Simon: It's an awful start. You can't lose to Hull City! The rest were against better sides though, but our defence has been too leaky. The new signings haven't really settled in yet and they haven't shown much to me. Aurele Amenda looks good, Ethan Pinnock is growing into the team, Caleb Yirenkyi shows flashes - but the rest haven't been anywhere near the level. We could have done with more proper Premier League experience, but hopefully the Forest win will be a massive boost for all.

Steve: We're pretty much where I thought we would be, although the one win being against Forest rather than Hull was not expected. I've read comments suggesting Lampard needs to settle on a regular starting XI, but I disagree. His bigger priority is a match-to-match strategy, beginning with Newcastle, utilising the whole squad.

Jack: I'm cautiously optimistic. The first few defeats were hard, but I was delighted with the spirit shown against Forest. Our October fixtures also look better than the ones we started the season with. I'm loving how Jay Dasilva and Bobby Thomas have taken to the Premier League. I'm positive again after a tough few weeks!

As we enter the season's first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League.

Saturday's win over Nottingham Forest was Coventry's first top-flight win for 25 years and gave a much-needed boost going into the extended international break.

Frank Lampard's side are now off the bottom of the table - only sitting in 17th on goal difference - and can look forward with optimism now their first points are on the board.

How do you rate the Sky Blues' start to the season and why? And what should Lampard be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

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European football commentator Kevin Hatchard says Coventry would be in "a very different scenario" going into the extended international break had they not secured their first win of the season by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Saturday.

It was the Sky Blues' first goal and win in the Premier League since 2001 and ensured Frank Lampard's side moved off the bottom of the table.

"The win at Forest is enormous because to go into that international break on a high is really important," Hatchard told BBC CWR.

"It's a really long international break and, as Lampard said, you can't train all the time - but there is a lot of time to reflect and think about previous results.

"If that had been a defeat it would have been Coventry really struggling at the foot of the table and it would have been a very different scenario.

"The Premier League is so tough. Every team now has a pretty extensive budget. It has been a tough start, it was always going to be, but I think that Forest win is enormous for the self-belief.

"Coventry are a brilliant attacking team but that leap to the Premier League is tough because defences are quicker and stronger - it is so much harder to score goals.

"That would be my concern when it comes to Coventry. They have good attacking players but can they perform at the top level?

"That is part of the puzzle for Lampard over the break. How can they be more dangerous and clinical?"

Listen to the full episode by hitting the play button below or on BBC Sounds.

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Former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic says it was "brave" to play Brandon Thomas-Asante as the number nine on Saturday against Nottingham Forest - but it was a decision that paid off for manager Frank Lampard.

Ghana striker Thomas-Asante got the nod ahead of Ellis Simms and summer signing Sidiki Cherif as Lampard opted to shake-up his attacking line-up.

Thomas-Asante was supported by wingers Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni, with the trio's regular interchanging of positions leaving Forest players wondering who to mark.

"It was the same with Caleb Yirenkyi as he started off at right-back, but towards the end of the game he was coming into midfield," said Ogrizovic on BBC CWR'S Sky Blues Fancast.

"Lampard said post-match that he didn't have a lot of time to put the team together and work at it on the training pitch, but they were actually very well drilled.

"They weren't caught short at the back either and were very solid defensively.

"It was a brave decision to play Thomas-Asante there because if we had lost, he would have got pelters.

"You need to have athleticism and pace to survive in the Premier League and they did with this team."

Sky Blues fan Stuart added: "One thing Thomas-Asante has got, which probably edged him over Simms and Cherif, is his first touch.

"It's always close control, whereas with Simms it sort of bounces off him.

"Thomas-Assante can swivel and turn on a sixpence, which I think helped us."

Listen to the Sky Blues Fancast on BBC Sounds