‘Headless chicken’ – Coventry City fans destroy ‘dangerous’ Liam Kitching in defeat vs Southampton
Liam Kitching was under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons during a Championship clash between Coventry City and Southampton.
Frank Lampard’s side remain top of the league standings, but after slipping up 2-1 at home on Saturday, 14 March, Middlesbrough were given a slim chance of catching up to the leaders.
The Saints, who are now just three points off the play-off spots, had a two-goal lead, thanks to Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki, before Victor Torp grabbed one back from the penalty spot in added time.
It was too little too late for the Sky Blues, however, and Lampard has been slammed for his decision to start Kitching in the centre of defence, especially with Joel Latibeaudiere on the bench.
Liam Kitching the enemy as Coventry City slip up
Despite seeing a first-half header acrobatically saved by Daniel Peretz, the majority of reviews on the defender’s performance are not very positive, to say the least.
One supporter compared him to a “headless chicken” due to some of his mistakes at the back, having given away possession far too often and putting his own team under unnecessary pressure.
With Latibeaudiere on the bench, many were baffled by Lampard’s decision to start the 26-year-old, dubbing him “hopeless” and “dangerous” during the defeat to Southampton at home.
- @ellisismyname: “Can kitching stop going forward like that? My god, it’s dangerous.”
- @bandares32: “What a surprise, another error from Kitching with a hopeless header then in no man’s land with the cross… Get him off… He was the problem before the unbeaten run started!!!”
- @mrdjmasters: “Kitching having a mare.”
Frank Lampard to be relieved after Middlesbrough vs Bristol City
Coventry’s defeat to the Saints could have been really detrimental this weekend.
What was an eight-point gap could have been closed to just five, only for Adam Randell to head home the Robins’ equaliser in the sixth minute of added time to totally silence the Riverside Stadium.
Boro are still one point closer to the league leaders, but it is a much better situation than many were expecting when 2-0 down against Southampton.
Millwall and Ipswich Town are both still within touching distance of the top two teams, but when it comes to automatic promotion, Coventry and Middlesbrough are likely to go toe-to-toe until the very end.
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