Frank Lampard and Jake Bidwell reflect on Coventry City's win against Watford 🎙️

Three wins out of three, that's pretty good. Yeah, it's a really good week. A tough game as always. Really pleased with the players, great effort for the week. Gives us a real positive feeling around the place. Fans, stadium, it was amazing today at the end of the game. Philly deserved the thing, it's a tough match against a good team. They're in a tough moment in a way but they've got lots of good individuals, powerful team at times and I thought we deserved it. First half in particular, you had the better of it and got the reward in the end. Yeah, first half and hour we were really good, really positive, everyone was on it. In all senses, it's not easy to break down a back five against a back five. So there are a lot of things that sometimes can block you but we were good with our movement, our passing, things we wanted to do, we did. We got our reward in the end as you say and at half-time it was just, yeah, in a good position and just to carry on and expect they have moments. And they had some but not that many really that were that threatening and even the goal for them was a messy goal but we held out brilliantly at the end as well. Yeah, always feel with them that even though they weren't doing much, that they have the potential to cause you problems. Were you pleased the way you dealt with them? Yeah, sure. They've got really good individuals in their team at the top end of the pitch. They're dangerous. They can travel with the ball well, they can run in behind you. That's why they're higher than us in the league. But yeah, again, great work ethic, collective spirit from the players. There's a real feeling around the group at the moment and it's so important. We keep that. It's easy when you're winning to keep that but we have to make sure we guard against any complacency and carry on with the unity that we have at this moment. Do you feel that bond is there? Because that was a characteristic when the team were going particularly well in the last couple of seasons. It was noted how strong the bond was in the squad. Do you feel you've got that here? Well, at this current time, and as I say, it's difficult to maintain always but it has to be something we strive for. They're a really good group of players. I really enjoy working with them. They want to win. They want to learn. They want to train. They want to do everything that you want. That's been a real pleasure for me to be involved in and any team that has any success must have that as a baseline. The minute we've got that, we've had to change system. Players have come in wanting a team and now they're in the team because of the way they're behaving on the pitch and training ground. They're just, at the moment, in a good place. So, it's important that we carry on. Victor Thorpe with the two goals and the free kick. How much work does he do on those? Well, yeah, he does on free kicks. I told him he'd scored today. I just had a feeling he's playing so well and he's technically so good. His all-round game is so good at the minute, on and off the ball. It's been, again, a pleasure to work with in terms of how he trains, his low maintenance and I think everyone on the ground, when that second free kick came and it was close, expected it to go in. That's what happens when you're high level at that stuff. So, he's a man of the day, without a doubt, and deservedly so. Made a game and one change at the back. Bobby Thomas left out for a couple of games, came back in. Do you feel he took that chance well? Yeah, and I've got four centre-backs and when we're playing a back three, one has to be out and it's important sometimes. I see things in the game where it might be better to have certain types out of them. We've got two left footers, two right and getting the balance right is always important. There's no slight on Binxley today to not play. Binxley's been involved in two clean sheets. They have to push each other, they have to support each other and I thought they all did a good job and Kitsch and Joel, either side of them as well. Their attitude and application at the minute is fantastic to defend a box, to do all the things we want. They're aggressive and, again, they have to continue that. Steps forward, you're in the top half now. Yeah, that's nice. It's good to feel that. It's nice to look at the table and feel that. It's more important that we concentrate on the next game and just understand what's got us into the position of this week and winning three games. If we can understand that and take it forward, then we'll have a chance to keep progressing. Do you feel you have momentum now? Yeah, but it's a dangerous word because it's something we have to continue. Football momentum can change very quickly. We've worked hard to get some form of momentum and we have to continue to work to keep it. Shaq, another one. Everyone must be feeling pretty happy in there. Yeah, no, obviously. Delighted. It's been a great week for us, a great couple of weeks, including the cup game. So, yeah, everyone's really pleased. Obviously, a productive week. Yeah, so, yeah, really pleased. How hard do you feel you had to work for it today? Yeah, I mean, every game in the Championship is difficult. We've obviously found out earlier in the season that if you're not 100% at it in all aspects of your game, then you won't pick up many results. So, we talked a lot about that being full throttle from the start. I think we had a good start as well, to be honest, today. And I think we deserved winners over the game, really. Do you feel as a team you're getting better at managing games a bit? Because they got one back, but after that you held that pretty comfortably, really. Yeah, I think so. I think, like I've said before, I think that spirit you get, there's nothing like winning games to produce that, really. You can go on as many socials, go-karting, whatever it is, team bonding, but there's nothing like coming through them last minute when everyone's grinding it out together. And weeks like this, where we've had good weeks, nothing produces team spirit like that. I didn't even go back to the cup game. The way we won the cup game was massive. People might say it's only the third round of the cup, but these things are massive to help us build momentum and save us a good, productive couple of weeks. And defensively, I know you didn't quite get the clean sheet today, but you are looking stronger defensively, aren't you? Yeah, we've done a lot of work on the training round, obviously, since the manager's come in. Just little details and little tweaks here and there that I think have massively helped us. And everyone's on the same page with it, which you need from front to back. We were a bit unfortunate with the home goal today, but we've managed to double our clean sheets since the manager's been in. And if we're going to keep climbing the table, that's going to be something we need to carry on with. And a slightly different role later, playing that left wing-back, how are you finding that? Yeah, no, I'm enjoying it. As I said before, I love playing wherever it's wing-back, left-back, centre-back, wherever it is. I'm just happy to be out there, contributing with the lads. And as they say, when you're winning games, it's always even better. And you're combining nicely with Jack Rodoni. And actually, Liam Kitching got up there quite a bit today as well, didn't they? Yeah, no, Jack's a great player, obviously. He's added to us this year. He's one of those players you can give him the ball anywhere and he'll manoeuvre it. So, yeah, no, I'm enjoying that. And Kitch has got a good relationship off the pitch with Kitch as well. So, yeah, I'm enjoying it at the minute. So, it's producing results, so hopefully that'll continue. A bit of talk with the two girls, were you expecting him to score that free kick? I don't know if I was expecting it, but I know he's capable. You see him strike a ball on the training ground. He's got every technique in the locker, his technique, seconds and on. So, I don't know if you expect him to score, but you always fancy him in those positions. And the way he gets it up and down is unbelievable. I think he'll probably tell you better than me, but as soon as he hits it, you think he's got a chance. So, I'm delighted for Vic, because he's worked his socks off as well the last few weeks. So, he deserves that as well. And you signed a new two and a half year contract recently. You must be pleased with that? Yeah, no, I'm delighted with that. I'm delighted to get it done. I said at the start of the season, I'd like to stay as long as there's a role for me, as long as I'm contributing. So, yeah, delighted to get it done and hopefully we can achieve good things in the next two and a half years. Because there have been a couple of times it looked like you might leave the club, and yet you now change to one of the longest serving players. Yeah, it's funny how football changes, isn't it? I just come in, get my head down every day, work as hard as I can and try and contribute to the team. Try and set an example of being one of the older players now. And yeah, like I say, I'm just delighted that the next two and a half years are going to be here and hopefully we can keep growing.