FRANK LAMPARD CONFIRMED AS COVENTRY CITY MANAGER

Frank Lampard has been named as manager of Coventry City. Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images

Frank Lampard has been appointed as manager of Championship side Coventry City, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Lampard, who has signed a 2 ½ year deal, replaces Mark Robins, who was sacked on Nov. 7 after their seventh loss in 14 league games.

Robins first managed Coventry between 2012-2013. He returned to the club in 2017, guiding them to two promotions as they rose from League Two to the Championship.

They came close to winning promotion to the Premier League, losing the 2023 playoff final to Luton Town on penalties. Robins then led Coventry back to Wembley last season as they reached the FA Cup semifinal, losing again on penalties, this time to Manchester United.

Lampard's appointment comes with the club in 17th position in the table, 10 points off the playoff places.

"I am delighted that Frank Lampard has agreed to join our club as head Ccoach. Frank cut his teeth in the Championship and knows what is needed in this League to be successful," Coventry owner Doug King said.

The Chelsea legend last coached in 2023 as interim boss of his former club, which he also managed full time between 2019-2021.

He began his coaching career at Derby County in 2018, with a stint at Premier League side Everton in 2022-2023.

- ESPN

EVERTON OVERCOME BRENTFORD TO CONFIRM PREMIER LEAGUE SURVIVAL

Everton confirmed their Premier League survival with a win over Brentford at Goodison Park.

 Idrissa Gueye's strike at the hour mark secured Everton a 1-0 win over Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, confirming the club's survival from relegation.

The win took 15th-placed Everton to 36 points from 35 matches, 11 ahead of 18th-placed Luton Town who also have three games left to play after losing 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the day.

Brentford, whose survival was also confirmed with Luton's loss, fell to 16th with 35 points.

"Incredibly pleased and proud. They're a group of players who have had knocks all season," Everton manager Sean Dyche told the BBC. "They've had a massive week. There's a lot of pressure and intensity on the week and can you do it again?"

The hosts broke the deadlock when Jack Harrison's cross from the right reached Jarrad Branthwaite near the six-yard box, who was dispossessed by Nathan Collins. But the ball rolled towards Gueye who ran up and made no mistake with his right footed finish.

Everton had nearly led when Ben Godfrey's cross from inside the box was almost met in front of goal by Youssef Chermiti in the sixth minute, but the forward fell inches short of making the finish.

Brentford also came close in the 19th minute when Vitaly Janelt found Mathias Jensen just outside the six-yard box, but Branthwaite's diving block foiled his attempt.

But the best chance of the half fell to Everton's Abdoulaye Doucouré, who had space inside the box to put away Chermiti's pass but sent it wide just before the break.

The woodwork denied Everton when Dwight McNeil's brilliant left footed effort from outside the box came off the crossbar, but fans in Goodison Park breathed a collective sigh of relief when Gueye scored minutes later.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford punched out Keane Lewis-Potter's attempt from inside the box in the 76th minute, as the hosts held on through the nervy final minutes to ensure three points.

"Perfect week. Three wins, three clean sheets," Pickford said. "A lot of pressure the last two years and the deductions this year. The lads dug in massively."

Everton visit Luton on Friday, a day before Brentford host Fulham.

- Reuters 

MOTD | MANCHESTER CITY 5-1 LUTON | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

 

MIKEL ARTETA REACTS TO ARSENAL WIN VS. LUTON TOWN

Getty

 Arsenal reclaimed first place in the Premier League on Wednesday with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Luton Town at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners leapfrogged Liverpool for the top spot in the standings, if only briefly as the Reds will face cellar dwellars Sheffield United on Thursday.

Regardless, Arsenal rode a dominant first half to victory, cruising through the second half as Luton provided little trouble. With it being a midweek match, Mikel Arteta rotated many lesser used players into the lineup, with the likes of Thomas Partey, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe earning rare starts.

Arteta was pleased with the way his new-look team responded, putting in a professional performance and keeping another clean sheet for the league's stingiest defence.

"We managed to rotate and freshen the team up a bit," the Arsenal boss told BBC Match of the Day. "Those who came in did really, really well.

"We scored two very good goals and in the second half, credit to Luton they are a really good side and difficult to play against but overall [we earned] a win and another clean sheet and in a couple of days we play again."

Arteta singled out the squad players for the job they did on Wednesday, stressing the importance of having a strong bench during a crowded part of the schedule.

"To have a squad they have to play," he said. "We have to make those decisions. The contribution they make to the team was very good.

"Now we recover and go again because we have Brighton away [on Saturday]."

THIS WEEK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

 Here's what to look out for over the next seven days, with clubs in midweek FA Cup fifth-round action and another big weekend of Premier League action ahead, including a mouthwatering Manchester derby between Manchester City and  Manchester United on Sunday.

Monday

Matchweek 26 finishes on Monday night with a London derby between West Ham United and Brentford at London Stadium, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT.

Brentford have won all five of their previous Premier League matches against West Ham, who will be hoping to avoid a fourth successive defeat without scoring for the first time since 2006.

Tuesday

There are four Premier League sides in FA Cup fifth-round action. First, AFC Bournemouth host Leicester City (19:30 GMT), while Newcastle United travel to Blackburn Rovers (19:45 GMT) and Luton Town welcome holders Man City to Kenilworth Road (20:00 GMT).

19:30 Blackburn v Newcastle

19:45 Bournemouth v Leicester

20:00 Luton v Man City

Wednesday

The FA Cup fifth-round action continues as Chelsea face Leeds United (19:30 GMT), before two all-Premier League ties as Nottingham Forest face Man Utd and Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Brighton & Hove Albion, both at 19:45 GMT. EFL Cup winners Liverpool are at home to Southampton (20:00 GMT).

19:30 Chelsea v Leeds

19:45 Nott'm Forest v Man Utd

19:45 Wolves v Brighton

20:00 Liverpool v Southampton

MOTD | CHELSEA VS. LUTON | POST MATCH ANALYSIS

 

LUTON 3-4 ARSENAL | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

 

MANCHESTER UNITED VS. LUTON TOWN | HIGHLIGHTS

LUTON 0-1 SPURS | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

COVENTRY 1-1 LUTON | "WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE!"

LUTON PROMOTED INTO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

LUTON TOWN FC VS. SUNDERLAND | 2-0 | CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS SEMI-FINAL | SECOND LEG

 

CHELSEA WINS THEIR FA CUP MATCH

 

A winning Wednesday! 🙌#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/EJuz2V0Dh4

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 2, 2022