After Frank Lampard secured their first home Premier League win since 2001 with a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United, boss Matthias Jaissle hailed a “complete performance” from Coventry City, who were frustrated by their last third game.
Promoted Coventry got off the mark with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest before the international break, but they were still goalless at the CBS Arena on Monday.
That changed in the sixth minute when Jack Rudoni opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a mistake by Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.
Newcastle dictated proceedings thereafter and saw few equalizing chances go begging, with the Magpies punished for their composure as Sidiki Cherif doubled Coventry’s lead three minutes into the second half.
Sven Botman gave Newcastle fighting hope with a stunning strike in the 70th minute and a fourth goal looked more likely to come from the visitors as they looked to level.
But Lewis Hall’s defensive error allowed Ellis Simms to restore a two-goal lead for Coventry with a deflected shot before Stephen Mfuni fired wide of the post to end a memorable night for the Blues.
“Very, very pleased,” Lampard told Sky Sports of Coventry.
“It’s very difficult to win. We played like the team we wanted to be here. There’s a lot of spirit and energy in the group and we know we’re going to struggle a lot this season.
“The lads’ work ethic and belief, you get what you deserve, it’s a great finish. We haven’t had the green this season to help us get more points.
“It was a complete performance. We have to keep our feet on the ground. It’s a great feeling for the players to feel that.
“It was a long 20 minutes [after the Botman goal] and it’s a fantastic strike, but we’ve also done some good defending. It was uncomfortable, but we started to make some changes and then you want the good guys who have been training all week to come in and add to the performance.
“If we don’t have that spirit, we don’t have a chance. We need everybody. A lot of guys knew that tonight.”
Jessel apologizes to Newcastle fans
Although Coventry had four goals from six shots on target, Botman’s goal was the only reward for a performance in which Newcastle had 66.7 per cent possession and 19 shots, six on target.
Jaissle expressed his irritation leading up to the second goal, for which Joe Willock was sent off after a collision that saw him leave the field for treatment but was not given a foul, but admitted his side were not good enough in attacking areas.
“We’re definitely disappointed,” Jaissle told Sky Sports. “When you feel like you should have won, it’s a feeling you don’t want to live with. We can only apologize to the away fans.
“We have to analyze it clearly, especially in the box, on both sides. There was no desire and hunger to score goals, to finish attacks.
“The second goal was a foul on Joe Willock but it wasn’t whistled, in my view he was missing where the ball landed after the kick. We have to improve on the things we can control.
“It’s never nice to concede a goal, but we came out after the break and found an approach to turn it around. The lads believed we scored the first goal and the momentum was on our side.
“It’s also that we have to learn that you can’t lose the ball in the danger zone. You can’t invite the opponent to score a third goal, then it will be difficult.
“We have to win these games. We have to improve defensively. We have to be sharper offensively.”