Coventry City defeated Sunderland 3-1 at the CBS Arena as Frank Lampard made key changes

Coventry City forced then feasted on a couple of defensive gaffes from Sunderland to restore momentum to their Premier League season at the CBS Arena.

Goals from Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Taiwo Awoniyi, both punishments for Sunderland mistakes around their own penalty area, put the Sky Blues in control, 2-0 up a half time and en route to a third win in five.

The influential Jack Rudoni took advantage of a deflection from the hapless Omar Alderete to make it 3-0 early in the second half – at which point the Black Cats decided they probably should show at least something to their 3,000 travelling supporters.

Referee Simon Hooper used video replay evidence and half the afternoon to see what he should have with the naked eye and award the visitors a penalty, which Enzo Le Fee tucked away.

And while there was the odd nervy moment, it was Sunderland who ended up having a man sent off and Frank Lampard’s side wondering if they should have won by a wider margin than 3-1 .

Here’s what stood out from a nerve-settling afternoon at the CBS Arena.

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Wins of change

Lampard was brave with his team selection, either emboldened or compelled by the lacklustre display against Fulham last time out he made four changes.

There wasn’t much debate that Stephen Mfuni should come in for the injured Bobby Thomas in defence – and it probably made sense to see if swapping Sidiki Cherif for Taiwo Awoniyi might give the ball more chance of sticking in attack.

But the call to leave out two players who have been cornerstones of Lampard’s time at City, Matt Grimes and Brandon Thomas-Asante was a big one.

Thomas-Asante gave way to Yann Gboho on the left wing, while the big talking point was the omission of Grimes, captain, conductor and ever-present.

In came Victor Torp to put in a masterful display, especially in the circumstances of an early booking which might have neutralised his impact.

It didn’t and the 27-year-old dovetailed perfectly with Caleb Yirenkyi, playing with tempo, going long when when needed and shortening the play at other times. You would never have guessed it was the Dane’s first Premier League start. Quite frankly it’ll be very difficult to leave him out at Everton.

If Grimes recognised that it certainly didn't show as he stood and applauded Torp as he replaced him towards the end. A class act from a player Lampard was keen to protect in his post-match press conference.

Running man

One word kept recurring in the build up to this game, during it and afterwards. Energy.

Lampard, indeed everyone, noticed a lack of it against Fulham both in possession and out and it was probably that shortcoming which opened the door for Torp.

Against Sunderland, though, the pace of play was better. From the second Torp swept play right to left to find Jay Dasilva, Rudoni and Gboho in the first couple of minutes, to the end when Yirenkyi made two lung-bursting runs to support Cherif in attack, Lampard’s players never stopped.

Yirenkyi might not be the neatest of players at times but he can run and run and run and you get the feeling a first goal is coming. Importantly he can also run back too and when Sunderland woke up at 3-0 down the Ghanaian was a key part of the defensive wall.

Energy is more than about kilometres covered though, it’s a mindset and Rudoni, Sakamoto and Gboho were all willing to carry the ball and take on defenders.

There was more purpose, more fizz, more intent about the Sky Blues today and just as they did against Newcastle they proved once again that when they get the wind in their sails at home, they really look like they belong in the Premier League.

Lucky Black Cat

City scored three goals, Sunderland had a hand in all three.

The first came when right back Trai Hume lost his bearings and hacked a clearance right at Luke O’Nien, which rebounded across his penalty area, straight to Sakamoto.

The second came when O’Nien was found dawdling in front of his own defence, was dispossessed bv Awoniyi whose shot then came of Alderete.

The third was an even bigger deflection off the Paraguayan defender, which wrong-footed Robin Roefs and took Rudoni’s total to three in four games.

But it would be wrong to say Regis Le Bris’ men simply gave City their win. In football you make your own luck Sakamoto’s finish was absolutely clinical.

Cast your minds back seven days when there was nothing to put between Coventry and Fulham other than a moment of quality from Oscar Bobb. This time the quality was wearing a Sky Blue shirt.

As for Awoniyi, he deserved his bit of fortune because it was him who won the turnover, him who carried the ball into the box and him who eluded three defenders. Promisingly the Nigerian has tended to score in bunches in the Premier League.

And as for the third goal, it was one that Lampard will have enjoyed because his side played themselves up the pitch, with Gboho, Jay Dasilva and Torp all combining neatly to give Rudoni the space to shoot.

City worked hard for their breaks.

Yann the man

Gboho, a £10million signing from Toulouse, played in the Premier League for the first time and while he didn’t rip it up, it was a good start and he didn’t look out of place.

He looked comfortable carrying the ball, in-field rather than round the outside, and linked up really well with Dasilva and Rudoni.

An authentic winger on the left gave the Sky Blues a nice balance.

I’d have liked to have seen him really open up when he was released on a counter-attack in the first half, and he might have made more of a chance which saw his shot blocked in the second but he certainly never hid.

Importantly when he did get the ball he usually retained it, that allowed his team to build attacks and gave time for his full back to get up in support.

On reflection I suspect I might have been a tad harsh on him with 6.5/10 and could probably have bumped him up to a seven. Like Torp he looks to have done enough to have retained his place for Everton.