Former Coventry City defender Stuart Pearce is full of admiration for Frank Lampard and has backed the Sky Blues to emulate their rivals
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
10:26, 05 Mar 2026
Stuart Pearce(Image: PA)
The intense, long-standing rivalry between Coventry City and Sunderland might not make the prediction a comfortable one but former Sky Blues defender Stuart Pearce believes Frank Lampard’s side can emulate the Black Cats’ terrific feat this season.
It’s probably fair to say Sunderland entered the Premier League through the back door last season, nicking a two-leg result despite being outplayed by City for most of the play-off semi-final.
And at Wembley it looked as if they would be overwhelmed until they dug deep and returned to the top flight thanks to a late winner from Tommy Watson to deny Sheffield United.
The Sky Blues will be hoping for much less drama over the final 11 games – and to replicate what Sunderland have done this term, which is become the third fastest promoted team in Premier League history to 40 points.
Regis Le Bris’ side are safe for at least another season and could even scrape into European football. Pearce, who was at Highfield Road from 1983-85, has backed Lampard to do something similar.
“I think the achievement has been brilliant so far,” he told Betway. “I’ve worked with Frank Lampard as a player and obviously on a coaching level, he’s an incredible professional and everything that a professional should be. He’s done a magnificent job there. There’s no doubt if he can get them promoted, it’s a massive achievement.
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“I think the FA Cup victory [in 1987] is a slightly bigger achievement in Coventry’s history, but this could rank second potentially, certainly over recent history in the last 50 or so years, no doubt about that.
“But let’s not underestimate how brilliantly they’ve done. They’ve led the Championship for most of the season, so my fingers are crossed that they do get promoted. I think the club need that.
“They’ve had some tough periods over the last few decades, but certainly they’re going in the right direction at the moment with an outstanding manager.
“I think he’s an individual that’s very professional. He certainly was as a player. He loves the game, but he’s never struck me as an individual with an ego, so he’s very level. I think that plays a big part in modern day management – not getting too high or too low.
“He’s been around the block and seen everything. I think there’ll be a squad of players that look at Frank and even when they suffer a rocky result, he’ll be nice and calm.
“Sunderland have been a great yardstick this year for a promoted teams because they’ve done extremely well. So I see no reason why Coventry can’t achieve that as well if they get promoted.”
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