Frank Lampard has praised the progress shown by his Coventry City side, insisting their narrow loss to Manchester City demonstrated a level of composure and organisation that was noticeably absent during their opening-day trip to Arsenal.

Coventry’s Premier League return began with a chastening 3-0 defeat at the Emirates, an occasion Lampard admitted overwhelmed his players, who appeared visibly intimidated by the physical and tactical demands of facing the champions.

Speaking to the club’s official website following the more recent 1-0 defeat to City, however, the Coventry boss detected a marked shift in his side’s approach, describing a team that competed with genuine identity and purpose rather than being overwhelmed by the magnitude of the fixture.

Lampard was keen to stress that his side won’t face opposition of Manchester City’s calibre on a weekly basis, but stressed the importance of the Premier League’s inherent unpredictability, with varying levels of quality to be encountered from week to week.

He urged his players to draw confidence from their display against City, acknowledging the disappointment of defeat while emphasising the broader value of the performance for building a resilient mentality going forward.

Contrasting the two experiences, Lampard explained that the Arsenal fixture had felt akin to an entirely new experience for the club given their lengthy absence from the top flight, whereas the City match represented something far more recognisable: a competitive Premier League outfit taking the game to their opponents with intent and a clear tactical plan.