Frank Lampard hailed a “complete performance”. City of Coventry after securing their first home Premier League win since 2001 with a 4-1 win Newcastle Unitedwhose boss Matthias Jaissle was left frustrated by his play in the final third.
Promoted Coventry got off the mark before the international break with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, but went into Monday’s clash still goalless at the CBS Arena.
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 afterwards and saw several chances to equalise, with the Magpies punished for their blunder when Sidiki Cherif doubled Coventry’s lead three minutes into the second half.
Sven Botman gave Newcastle hope of a fightback with a stunning goal in the 70th minute, and a fourth goal from the visitors looked more likely as they pressed for an equaliser.
But a defensive error from Lewis Hall allowed Ellis Simms to restore a two-goal lead for Coventry with a deflected strike, before Stephen Mfuni fired in off the post to round off a memorable night for the Sky Blues.
“Very, very satisfying,” Lampard told Sky Sports of Coventry’s performance.
“It’s very difficult to win. We played like the team we want to be here. There’s a lot of spirit and energy in the group and we know we’re going to have to suffer a lot this season.
“The guys’ work ethic and belief, you get what you deserve, which are great finishes. We haven’t had that rub of the green this season to help us score 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 Botman’s goal) and it’s a great goal but we did a good job defensively as well. It was a concern but we started to make some changes and that’s when you ask good guys to train all week to come in and step up.
“If we don’t have that spirit, we don’t have a chance. We need everybody. A lot of guys knew that tonight.”
Jaissle apologizes to Newcastle fans
While Coventry scored four goals from six shots on target, Botman’s goal was Newcastle’s only reward for a performance they had put in. 66.7 percent possession and had 19 shots on goalsix of them blank.
Jaissle signaled his irritation at the start of the second goal, which saw Joe Willock off the field after a collision that saw him leave the field for treatment but was not fouled, but accepted his side were not good enough in attacking areas.
“We’re definitely frustrated,” Jaissle told Sky Sports. “It’s a feeling you don’t want to have when you feel you should have won. We can only apologize to the fans who made the journey.
“We have to analyze it clearly, especially in the area, at both ends. The desire and desire to score, to finish the attacks, was missing.
“The second goal was a foul on Joe Willock, but it wasn’t whistled, in my eyes, then it was fouled in that spot where the ball fell after the serve. We have to improve the things we can control.
“It’s never nice to concede a goal but we set ourselves up after half-time to come out and turn it around. The boys believed so we got the first goal and the momentum was on our side.
“This is also something we have to learn that in a dangerous area you can’t lose the ball, you can’t invite the opponent to score the third, then it will be difficult.
“We have to win these games in the boxes. Defensively we have to improve. Offensively we have to be sharper.”
