For the first time in 25 years Coventrycelebrated a home Premier League win while Emma Bunton topped the charts with “What Took You So Long?”.
The headline fits perfectly as the Sky Blues finally broke a quarter‑century drought of home victories and goals in the top flight.
Bunton’s fleeting hit may fade, but the thrashing of Newcastle will linger for the fans.
Rudoni’s spot‑kick, Cherif’s debut strike and late goals from Simms and Mfuni hauled them out of relegation danger.
Level on points with Manchester United after six games and climbing out of the drop zone, Lampard’s men have announced their comeback.
Coventry followed up at Nottingham Forest, netting four Premier League goals for the first time since a 4‑1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in May 2000.
Insiders at Ryton believe a solid run in the next seven fixtures could give the Sky Blues a survival platform.
Next up are trips to Tottenham and Fulham—both winless—plus clashes with Sunderland, Everton, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Ipswich before December.
“It’s big and we have to tap into that in a good way, in a humble way,” Lampard said, noting the side sit 14th.
“We have to be excited and I’m seeing players develop quickly,” he added.
“Many have had little or no Premier League minutes—Rudoni, Brandon Thomas Asante, Ephron Mason‑Clark, among others,” Lampard noted.
“Facing Arsenal, Manchester City and Brighton early on showed it’s not easy here,” he observed.
“This win boosts confidence, but we must avoid overconfidence. It gives us a template for future results,” he said.
For my money, this win could define the next six weeks for Lampard’s squad, even if it wasn’t flawless.
A 3‑1 Carabao Cup loss to Aston Villa in between made the CBS Arena win essential.
“We’ll be underdogs in almost every match,” Lampard admitted. “We must maximise every chance and push to our limits.”
“They need to stay grounded; the next two games will be tough,” he warned.
“We’re shaping into a side that makes opponents work for points, something we lacked early this season,” he claimed.
Lampard handed Sidiki Cherif his first Premier League start after his summer transfer from Fenerbahçe, and the teen repaid the faith.
“We have great belief in Sidi, a major signing,” Lampard said after the 4‑1 win at Newcastle.
“He’s respectful and hungry, showing that drive on the training pitch and in games. I sensed it from day one,” Lampard praised.
“You might not realize he’s 19. He’ll be upset about a miss, but that frustration fuels him. He has a good edge,” the manager noted.
At 19 years, 301 days, Cherif becomes Coventry’s youngest Premier League scorer since Robbie Keane’s goal against Middlesbrough in April 2000 (19y 282d).
He also marks the first Sky Blues Premier League goal from outside the box since David Thompson’s strike versus Newcastle in January 2001.
His crisp finish, threading through a wall of defenders, arrived in his fourth appearance after already converting a penalty.
Coventry netted 97 goals in their Championship triumph last season, a reminder of their lethal finishing.
With Haji Wright sidelined by a serious thigh injury, much of the scoring load now falls on £20 million Cherif, who wasn’t even born for Coventry’s previous top‑flight stint.
Lampard said, “Sidi has European experience with Fenerbahçe, so he should feel at home at this level.”
“There’s something special about him,” the manager added.