Latibeaudiere: "We must take lessons from Albion's loss."
Coventry City defender Joel Latibeaudiere has reflected on the team’s 2-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, expressing a determination to learn from the mistakes that led to their downfall. The Sky Blues suffered their first loss under the management of Frank Lampard at The Hawthorns, and Latibeaudiere believes the scoreline didn’t accurately reflect the flow of the match.
Speaking to BBC CWR, the 23-year-old centre-back admitted that despite Coventry’s efforts, they failed to capitalize on key opportunities. “It was a challenging match,” Latibeaudiere commented. “I don’t think the final score reflects the way the game went. West Brom took their chances, and unfortunately, we didn’t take ours when the opportunities presented themselves.”
While the result was disappointing, Latibeaudiere stressed the importance of learning from the experience. “We can definitely take some positives from the game, but ultimately, it’s about learning and improving from what happened. We created chances, but we weren’t clinical enough to finish them. We need to recognize that and improve in that aspect.”
Latibeaudiere also highlighted that while Coventry’s play between the boxes had been impressive, the critical moments in both penalty areas ultimately determined the outcome. “We’ve been good between the two boxes, but football is ultimately decided in the boxes—both defending our own and attacking theirs. At the moment, we’re not winning that battle, and that’s where we need to focus.”
One area that Latibeaudiere pinpointed for personal improvement was his role in the second goal scored by West Brom. The defender took full responsibility for the error, acknowledging that his failure to contain Karlan Grant had been costly. “The second goal was on me. Grant got past me too easily, and I’ll be working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen again. It’s something I’ll learn from and won’t repeat.”
Looking ahead, Coventry will return to the CBS Arena on Saturday to face Hull City, who are currently at the bottom of the league. Latibeaudiere sees this as the perfect opportunity for the team to bounce back from their midweek defeat. “The great thing about football is that we don’t have to wait long for the next game,” he said. “We’ve got a chance to put things right and correct the mistakes we made. We know how much it means to our fans, and we’re determined not to let them down again.”
Latibeaudiere emphasized the importance of momentum, stressing the need for consistency in order to climb the league table. “We need to get on a good run, start picking up points, and show the consistency that will help us move up the standings. That’s the key to making progress in this league.”
For Coventry, Saturday’s match is not just about bouncing back from a tough loss—it’s about using this chance to build some momentum and gain the consistency that has been lacking so far. Latibeaudiere and his teammates are determined to take the lessons from the West Brom defeat and use them to fuel their drive for improvement, with the hope of putting together a run of strong performances and moving up the league table.
