Coventry City face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night

Frank Lampard was keen to talk about Matt Grimes after Saturday night’s win over Sunderland.

The Coventry City boss had dropped his captain for the first time in the midfielder’s Sky Blues career and he went to lengths to add context. He described it as a 'difficult' decision.

“We're trying to find our feet as a team to try and get the balance,” Lampard said. “But I think it's really important that people understand that and the quality of player and person that he is at this football club and appreciate it. And I do.”

Lampard went on to talk up Victor Torp's performances in training, saying the Dane had earned the right to start in the Premier League for the first time. Nevertheless it was a bold and noteworthy choice that seemed to pay dividends.

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It’s difficult to divine what that did for the Sky Blues against the Black Cats, certainly far too simplistic to say they lost to Fulham because of Grimes and won against Sunderland thanks to Torp. They faced two different opponents, playing two different ways and were presented with two different challenges.

Potentially Torp could have played against Fulham and the Sky Blues still lost, or Grimes could have retained his place against Sunderland and played his part in a win. You get the picture.

Indeed anyone who thinks they saw a difference in the way the pair played – as most of us did – might be surprised by the fact their average positions were almost identical.

The average position of both Grimes against Fulham and Torp against Sunderland was on the centre spot. The similarity in that metric is uncanny. Almost like it's planned.

A statistical analysis in a little more illuminating, albeit complicated by the fact Grimes played 90 minutes and Torp only 82.

City had more of the ball against Sunderland, 42 per cent possession, and Torp had 50 touches. Against Fulham Grimes had 69 touches from just 36 per cent of the ball.

As a team Coventry were more forward thinking, against Fulham they played 362 passes and 123 forward. Against Sunderland they made 338 passes but 147 went forward. The long ball count went up from 52 to 71. City were playing differently as a collective.

Interestingly Torp had 20 per cent of his touches, ten from 50, in the attacking third. Grimes also had ten in that area but from eight more minutes and 19 more touches.

Despite having less of the ball Torp had two ‘key passes’ and ‘chances created’ compared to Grimes’ one the previous week. Torp also registered an assist, and while that might be a generous description of his final pass for Jack Rudoni’s deflected goal, it is notable he featured twice in the build-up, helping the Sky Blues play out from the back and then popping up again seconds later in attack. It was the running forward that caught the eye.

Perhaps the other key area is out of possession. It took Torp seven minutes to land his first blow – and earn his first yellow card. In all he won one tackle and made three clearances. Grimes wasn’t credited with a tackle against Fulham but did make four clearances. Torp had four ball recoveries and Grimes one.

It’s only fair to point out that on Saturday Grimes replaced Torp with eight minutes to go and brought order to a home side that was starting to bend out of shape.

Statistically and positionally there didn’t seem to be much between the midfielders at all, but it did feel as though City played with a higher tempo with the ball and greater intensity without it against the Black Cats. Torp undoubtedly played his part.

It will be interesting to see what Lampard takes from Sunderland and feels he wants to retain against Everton. Could it be a return to Grimes’ steady hand and controlled play, or could he view Torp’s mobility as key against a David Moyes team?

One thing is for sure, if it was a big call to replace Grimes on Saturday, it’d be just as big to reverse that change six days later.