It's going to be a huge test - but let's enjoy it, insists Lampard

FRANK Lampard insists his Coventry City players are “very clear” as to the challenge they face today as the club prepares for their biggest game of the season.

- By ANDY TURNER Sky Blues Reporter

Victory for the Sky Blues over Middlesbrough at the CBS Arena (12.30) would secure their place in the Championship play-offs and be potentially three games away from promotion to the Premier League.

The squad has come a long way since the end of November when the 46-year-old was first appointed, taking over with the team 17th in the league, just two points off the bottom three.

Back then in his first press conference Lampard was asked whether a top-six finish was a possibility, to which he didn’t rule it out.

“Yeah, and that's been the ride that we've been on,” said the head coach, ahead of the last match of the regular campaign.

“At that point I wasn’t sure. I think to be in 17th and claim you were going to make the play-offs would have been a big stretch.

“Did I believe it? Probably not, in terms of I’m experienced enough to know there’s a lot of work to be done and there's a reason why you're 17th.

“You want to move up the table and it will be step by step is, I think, kind of how I put it. So we’ve made steps and now we've given ourselves an opportunity, which is great. But clearly, the job isn’t done yet.”