Aaron McLean’s takeaway – Coventry City are struggling as Middlesbrough press hard

On 25 November, Coventry City won 4-2 at Middlesbrough to move 10 points clear at the top of the Championship, while the Sky Blues were 13 points clear of third place on Boxing Day. Now their lead has disappeared after a 2-1 loss to QPR, and the chasing pack are on the verge of faltering Frank Lampard’s side badly.

McLean: “Losing to QPR is a huge blow. It will give everyone who is chasing Coventry belief that they can catch them and get past them. I would probably rather be one of those chasers than Coventry at this moment.

“It’s a very difficult period for Frank Lampard. If he can do this, he will show what a good coach he is.”

“This is the first time he has been at a club that is at the top of the division. Now this is how you deal when you are the big club at the top of the tree.

“They’ve been through a tough patch but good teams bounce back from that. That’s where you’re judged. Everyone goes through them but that’s how you bounce back.

“Right now, they are really struggling and it gives others a lot of confidence.

“The problem Coventry have now is that they are trying to find the right level when Middlesbrough and Hull fly – and Ipswich, who have certainly improved since the start of the season.

“As the points gap narrowed, confidence started to decline because they were in the comfort zone for a long period of time.”