Frank Lampard has praised Frank Onyeka following his stunning goal in Coventry City’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Derby County, as the Sky Blues moved closer to promotion in the Championship.
The Nigeria international latched onto a pass inside the box before unleashing a first-time strike that arced over the goalkeeper into the far top corner, marking his first goal for the club and ending a two-year drought at club level.
The goal, which came after a sequence of pressing and intelligent movement, set the tone for a pulsating contest at the CBS Arena.
Reflecting on the midfielder’s performance, Lampard highlighted not only the quality of the finish but also the all-round contribution that led to the goal, noting that Onyeka’s actions in regaining possession and initiating the move were equally important.
‘It was brilliant from Frank, not just the finish, but the winning the ball back and Cruyffing near the touch line and then going and joining in again to receive the pass from Romain Esse in the box’, he said as quoted by Coventry Live.
Lampard added that Onyeka’s display reflected the attributes that convinced the club to bring him in during the winter transfer window, while emphasising the significance of the goal itself after a prolonged wait.
‘It’s the attributes that we brought him in to do but the special thing is the goal. I felt a goal was coming for Frank. He’s quite hungry to get in there and has got the capacity to arrive and shoot, and it was a fantastic goal’, he said.
The strike ended a barren run that had stretched across 55 matches for club sides including Brentford and Augsburg, with Onyeka’s contributions previously focused on his primary role as a defensive midfielder.
Under Lampard, he has been tasked with shielding the defence, breaking up opposition play and supporting transitions, while gradually adding attacking output to his game.
Since joining Coventry on loan, Onyeka has made nine Championship appearances, starting eight and averaging 71 minutes per game, with consistent defensive contributions including tackles, interceptions and ball recoveries playing a key role in the club’s promotion push.
The victory takes Coventry to 83 points from 40 matches, leaving them nine points clear of second-placed Millwall with six games remaining. They now require wins in their next two fixtures to confirm promotion to the Premier League, with a home clash against Sheffield Wednesday looming as a potential decisive encounter.
Onyeka’s loan deal includes a clause for a permanent move should promotion be secured, and his long-awaited goal, coupled with his overall performances, could prove crucial as Coventry edge closer to a return to the top flight.
