FRANK Lampard felt his Coventry City side were not ‘active enough’ in their defeat at relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle.
The Sky Blues slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Home Park as Haji Wright’s goal proved in vain for the visitors.
However, defeat for Middlesbrough at Sheffield Wednesday ensured City remain sixth in the Championship table, three points clear of the chasing pack in the race for a play-off race.
And Lampard admits results elsewhere were a huge bonus for his side in their pursuit of a top-six finish.
Lampard said: “It’s a big bonus. This is the Championship. None of us thought this would be easy coming to Plymouth and our rivals have all found it the same.
“We are disappointed because we want to come here and win and make more daylight but the daylight was there on the other side of us months ago. We have to accept it and analyse the details.
“We weren’t good enough to win the game. We controlled a lot of the ball but we knew we’d do that. Mistakes and set pieces cost us and they have a huge effect on the game.
“We were not active enough and our forward passes were not good enough, which can happen against a low block. That’s where you have to be more active and cause them more problems. They need to show more because these games can be tough.”
Plymouth deservedly took the lead five minutes before half time when Coventry failed to deal with a corner from the right and Adam Randell cut the ball back to Mustapha Bundu who finished past Bradley Collins at his near post.
The home side stunned the Sky Blues three minutes later as Bundu robbed Milan van Ewijk of possession which left the visitors exposed at the back before squaring to Hardie who finished through the gloves of Collins.
However, Coventry kept themselves in the contest with a goal on the stroke of half time with Conor Hazard only able to push Ellis Simms’ initial header from a corner into the path of Wright who tucked home the rebound from close range.
Plymouth restored their two-goal cushion on 65 minutes when City failed to clear a long throw from the right and Bundu forced home his second of the game from close range at the second attempt despite the best efforts of Collins.
However, the Sky Blues felt goalscorer Bundu should have seen red for a lunging challenge on Jamie Allen just before the half-hour mark for which the forward received a yellow card.
Lampard added: “It was a clear red card. It’s another big decision that has gone against us. Jamie Allen is adamant about it, and I’ve seen it myself.
“I don’t want to talk about it because Plymouth deserved to win the game, but if they had 10-men that would have been different.
“We’ve amassed a huge amount of points from where we were. We are sixth.
“If you’d have offered me that when I came in I would have taken it. I am not going to have a go at the lads, we just need to have a go at what is in front of us now for these final two games.”
Coventry are next in action against Luton Town on Saturday, April 26 with kick-off at 12.30pm at Kenilworth Road.
