Frank Lampard admitted he was “out of order” after sparking a post-match melee following Coventry’s 1-1 draw at Southampton. The manager reacted to abuse from home supporters by going onto the pitch at full-time and gesturing repeatedly towards them, triggering a reaction from players.
“I was probably emotional,” said Lampard, who had been called “a shit Steven Gerrard”. “The fans had given me a bit in the last 10 minutes and I went on the pitch to give them a bit back. It was really out of order but I wouldn’t have had as long in this game if I wasn’t sometimes emotional on the pitch, and not a bad bloke off it.”
Ephron Mason-Clark had given Coventry a first-half lead with a header from Victor Torp’s dink, but they could not hold out as Nathan Wood levelled after the break, following Jay Dasilva’s red card 85 seconds into the second half. Wood nodded in his first Southampton goal from an Adam Armstrong delivery in the 56th minute.
Lampard added: “I was very proud of the players and then it got a bit heated. Not every game can we shake hands and smile. I have no problem with their players or fans; this is a very good football club and I have always liked it. They might not have that back for me tonight but that’s fine. I was hyped because of what my players had done. I’m not a robot.”
