COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Coventry held at home by managerless Millwall



Managerless Millwall managed to grind out a point against Coventry City watched by prospective new boss Alex Neil.

In a game of few chances, the Sky Blues maintained their unbeaten home record under head coach Frank Lampard, a month and a day on from his appointment.

As for Millwall, it has been widely reported that former Norwich City, Preston North End, Sunderland and Stoke City boss Neil is set to be appointed as the Lions' new boss.

The 43-year-old was in attendance at the Coventry Building Society Arena as City's draw, their second in seven games under Lampard, left them 15th, a point behind 13th-placed Millwall.

David Livermore has been Millwall caretaker manager for three games since the departure of Neil Harris in early December.

Livermore made two changes to the side that lost at Norwich last time out, bringing in George Honeyman and Macaulay Langstaff to replace Mihailo Ivanovic and the injured Aidomo Emakhu.

The Sky Blues won 4-0 at home to Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle on Boxing Day but, without in-form Ephron Mason-Clark through injury, it was a completely different story as the hosts managed just one shot on target in a dismal first half.

The recalled Victor Torp played in Jake Bidwell, who cut back for Ben Sheaf, but the midfielder's effort was comfortably saved by Millwall keeper Lukas Jensen.

Lampard threw on both Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante in search of a second-half winner but to no avail as Millwall extended this season's record on the road this season to a sixth draw in 11 games - and eight goals scored.

Neil was ironically also in attendance the last time the Sky Blues were held to a goalless home stalemate by Stoke City 13 months ago.

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard told BBC CWR:

"Millwall make it very hard for you. They're very hard to get through and you just have to stay patient.

"I'm only frustrated with the result - but happy with the performance and another clean sheet.

"You go though Millwall's results this season and you see how hard they've made it for other teams.

"All we can do is try to keep improving - and we have Haji Wright to come back in January. First, we have to go again at Cardiff on New Year's Day, but it's the same for everybody this time of year."

Coventry now face two back-to-back away games - at Cardiff on New Year's Day, then Norwich next Saturday.