Can Coventry City stay top of the Championship? Aaron McLean’s EFL takeaways

Narrowly defeated in the Championship play-offs last season, Coventry are currently unbeaten this term and have soared into top spot after rattling in 12 goals – and conceding none – in their past three games.

Could last year’s play-off heartbreak actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues?

McLean: They definitely look like they’ve learned from last season and improved and that was always going to be the biggest test. At the moment they’ve passed that test with flying colours.

It’s not uncommon to see teams have a slight hangover and feel sorry for themselves, but Coventry haven’t done that. I actually feel if they were to go on and get promotion this season it’d be better timing than last season – you can go up too early.

Frank Lampard got his message across last year in terms of the structure and the way he likes things done, but they now look a more complete team. Week in, week out they’re just churning out great performances, not just getting wins.

Any team that’s going to get promotion has to have standout goalscorers and Coventry have got Haji Wright, Ellis Simms – who you know is capable – and also Brandon Thomas-Asante, who got a couple against Sheffield Wednesday and has a great record.

They’ve got goals throughout their squad, with midfielders who will chip in. To score 27 at this stage of the season and be playing the way they’re playing is incredible.