Frank Lampard looking on during Coventry's defeat to Brighton

Frank Lampard made Coventry City history for all wrong reasons in Sunday's 5-0 loss to Brighton.

Defeat to the Seagulls means Coventry have lost their opening four league games in a season for the first time in 107 years.

Coventry boss Frank Lampard looking down during his side's defeat to Brighton
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It's been a season to forget so far for Coventry and Lampard so far

What unwanted record has Frank Lampard achieved?

And Lampard, who oversaw his 283rd managerial game of his career, has also created unwanted personal history.

Sunday's loss was the first time in his career that he has seen his team ship in at least three goals, concede a penalty and receive a red card in the same game.

The Sky Blues went behind to a Charalampos Kostoulas strike ten minutes before the break.

And Brighton were two goals to the good six minutes into the second half through Malick Yalcouye.

Coventry's afternoon went from bad to worse after Taiwo Awoniyi received his marching orders for a 'WWE-style' forearm smash shortly after kick-off following Yalcouye's goal.

Goals from Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari then compounded a miserable afternoon for Lampard and his men.

The result leaves Coventry rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table having conceded ten goals and scored none.

Even so, Coventry fans applauded the team despite falling to a heavy home defeat over the weekend.

It was a rare bright spark for Coventry during a disappointing showing, which Lampard commented on following the Brighton debacle.

What did Frank Lampard say about Covenry's loss?

"That's great for us because I think these fans lived the last 18 months with this team and have seen what's happened," Lampard told talkSPORT.

Coventry striker Taiwo Awoniyi pleads his innocence
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Awoniyi's red card didn't help Coventry against Brighton on SundayCredit: PA

"I think they respect that and there's not a team there that's not showing effort. The circumstance of the game went so much against us."

Lampard felt his side started brightly in Sunday's early Premier League clash, adding: "First half we create more chances, but can't take our moments, which we had numerous, and they take theirs.

"Then start the second half where we have another big chance and a mistake for the second goal.

"So all these circumstances and the red card, I think the fans can see that for what it was. I think they respect the players. so that was a nice part of a difficult afternoon."

What did Frank Lampard say on Taiwo Awoniyi's red card?

Awoniyi's dismissal proved a real turning point in the clash at Coventry Building Society Arena.

Lampard, though, had no issues over the red card, continuing: "No complaints. They've given it and VAR checks it.

Taiwo Awoniyi of Coventry
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Lampard has declared he can't argue over Awoniyi's straight red cardCredit: Shutterstock Editorial

"I haven't spoken to him properly about it and haven't seen it a second time around yet, but it is what it is and it made us under stress for the last 30 minutes of the game."

Despite starting the campaign with four successive defeats, Lampard has looked at the positives as the Coventry boss stated: "We created three big ones [chances] at City last week and didn't take them.

"They will always affect games. And then the Premier League reality of the clinical nature of their finishing, Lewis Dunk scoring from 35 yards, it's one of those games.

"It's not excuse time, it's just understanding what that is, stepping up as a group and keeping going.

"We're very early in the season, we've got some really difficult fixtures out of the way. We have to remain positive is the first thing."

Coventry will hope to claim a first result of the season when they face Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest next weekend ahead of the first international break of the season.

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