Frank Lampard and John Mousinho arguing on the touchline during Portsmouth vs Coventry match
When the Championship meets drama, it’s rarely short of fireworks — and this week’s clash between Coventry City and Portsmouth was no exception. While Coventry’s thrilling 2-1 win kept their unbeaten run alive, the real sparks flew on the touchline between Frank Lampard and John Mousinho.
The two managers clashed after a controversial handball incident left Mousinho furious. Portsmouth felt they should’ve been awarded a penalty when Jay Dasilva appeared to block Yang Min-hyeok’s cross with his arm — but referee Gavin Ward wasn’t convinced. The non-call triggered heated words between both benches, and things got tense enough that officials had to step in.
After the match, Lampard didn’t hold back on what he thought of Mousinho’s antics:
“I didn’t think it was a penalty at the time. It’s a stadium where the crowd can put pressure on the referee — and I don’t think adding pressure on the fourth official was necessary.”
Clearly, the Coventry boss wasn’t impressed by how his opposite number handled the situation. But if the exchange rattled him, it didn’t show in his team’s performance. Coventry powered through with two goals from Brandon Thomas-Asante, while Makenzie Kirk netted a late consolation for Portsmouth.
On the flip side, Mousinho defended his reaction, maintaining it was all about the decision — not Lampard.
“It looks a clear penalty to me. I was trying to speak to the fourth official about it, but there’s no bad blood with Frank. My issue is with the officials for missing it.”
Despite the drama, he admitted Coventry deserved the win, saying it was a fair result overall.
Beyond the touchline tension, Coventry are looking red-hot. Lampard’s men have now bagged five straight wins, leading the Championship table by four points over Middlesbrough. Thomas-Asante continues to shine, with eight goals already this season.
But even in victory, Lampard kept his feet on the ground:
“People will get excited, but our job is to stay focused. This league punishes you if you relax.”
He also heaped praise on his star striker:
“He’s fit, hungry, and giving us everything. He just needs to stay humble and keep going.”
With Lampard’s Coventry flying high and emotions running hot, the Championship is shaping up to be a season full of intensity — both on and off the pitch.
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