Frank Onyeka quite hungry to get goals – Lampard

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard reserved praise for Nigeria forward Frank Onyeka after he was among the goals to help the EFL Championship defeat Derby County 3-2 and move eleven points clear at the top of the table on Friday.

The Sky Blues took the lead through a wonderful Onyeka strike before Ben Brereton-Diaz scored two either side of Rudoni’s first goal in what was a pulsating match.

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City responded well to Derby’s fightback and Rudoni scored the winner with 10 minutes left on the clock. Lampard’s men opened the scoring on 12 minutes when Esse found Onyeka who beautifully lofted the ball into the top far corner from the right of the area.

Onyeka scored fantastic goal

“It’s a big win for us at this point of the season,” Lampard told Coventry media after the game.

“I felt a goal was coming for Frank, he’s quite hungry to get in there and got the capacity to arrive and shoot but it was a fantastic goal.

“I felt like it affected our performance in the first half because to go 1-0 up in a tense part of the season, it can sometimes make you take less risk and think ‘let’s see this through’.”

Lampard added as per Sky Sports: “The work that he does for the goal is exactly what he has been doing for us and it’s what we brought him in to do, sort of breaking up play. But there’s more to his game.

“The physical part of his game is one thing, and breaking it up. But he has got that also (shooting). All round, he’s a quality player and an amazing lad coming from the Premier League with this incredible humility where he just comes in and works. He’s such a lovely bloke and I’m delighted for him. This place adores him already.”

Onyeka has been fantastic

Speaking after the game, Sky Sports broadcaster Curtis Davies labelled Onyeka as a fantastic signing for Coventry, who joined Coventry on loan from Brentford in January.

“He’s been fantastic. Eight Coventry appearances, seven wins. I think that says it all,” he said.

In a recent interview with BBC Sports, Lampard explained why Onyeka has brought valuable top-flight experience to the team as they chase promotion to the Premier League.

“When we recruited him the playing profile was different as we are quite light on Premier League experience,” said Lampard.

“Not many of our players have been exposed to the Premier League, some other Championship teams have lots of exposure to the Premier League.

“So, there’s an experience about it, a knowhow in his game but he’s been a big impact on and off the pitch for us. His professionalism is really good and he’s clearly come in and helped our upturn in recent weeks.”

That was Onyeka’s first goal for Coventry and will hope to keep his role when they Sky Blues return to action against Hull City at MKM Stadium on Monday.