Coventry City’s spot in the Championship playoffs is just the beginning, says manager Frank Lampard, who insists the team will stay grounded despite their remarkable turnaround this season.

Since taking over in November, the former Chelsea boss has led Coventry from 17th place to fifth in the table.

Their 2-0 home victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday sealed a playoff semifinal meeting with fourth-placed Sunderland.

"We came in at 17th in November, so firstly I thank my staff because when you come in you want to make quick impact. Every day they work, support, they're good at things that I'm not so good at and all those things," Lampard told talkSPORT on Saturday.

"And then existing staff and players, to do the uplift from 17th to come fifth and get to the playoffs, it's a big achievement.

"But it's only a start, we're not over-celebrating here, we're saying thanks to the fans because they support us all season. To make those strides as a club, I think everyone should be happy tonight."

The 46-year-old former England midfielder also took a moment to commend his predecessor, Mark Robins, who was the third longest-serving manager across England’s top four divisions before his dismissal in November.

Robins returned to Coventry for a second spell in 2017 and successfully guided the club from League Two to the Championship.

In 2023, he led Coventry to the Championship playoff final, where they narrowly lost to Luton Town on penalties. He also came close to securing an FA Cup final spot, but the team fell to Manchester United in a shootout after staging a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down.

"Credit to Mark Robins because what he's done here is build the club up and do things that I can never do here from League Two up here and play a final and FA Cup semifinal. Full respect to that," Lampard said.

Coventry host Sunderland in the first leg on May 9, with the second leg taking place on May 13.