Coventry's set piece prowess has them in promotion pole position

Heading into the 2025-26 season in the Championship, there were certainly high hopes for Coventry City. They were tied for the 3rd highest point tally in the Championship (52) following the appointment of Frank Lampard in November 2024, propelling them to the playoffs. Their hopes for promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2001 were ultimately dashed in the semifinals vs Sunderland. However, between the uptick in form, along with a bolstered squad over the summer, they were among a handful of contenders for automatic promotion.

There weren’t many who predicted things would be this good after 21 matches. Coventry are first, five clear of 2nd place Middlesbrough. They’re currently on pace for around 103 points, which would be among the highest the Championship has seen since it’s gone to a 46 game format. That’s no small feat when taking into account some of the dominant teams from England’s second division over the past 5-10 years. The 103 point pace is within reach of Reading’s record of 106. If you want to look at goal difference, Coventry’s +30 is over double the 2nd highest in Ipswich at +13. No matter how you slice, it’s been a dominant run so far.

Coventry’s attack has certainly been good during open play. Their combined goals from open play and counter attacks of 29 is only bettered by Hull at 31. No team in the Championship has more shots from open play, and they’re 9th in shots from counters. They have relied on a combination of wing play and going direct to cause headaches for the opposition, which on its own would be solid enough to do damage in the division.

What’s made Coventry’s attack truly formidable is what they do from dead-ball situations. They’ve scored 20 set piece goals in 21 games according to Opta, essentially a goal per game which is a ridiculous rate (Statsbomb have it logged at 17). For reference, Arsenal are widely accepted as the Premier League’s set-piece kings and Opta has them leading the League with 10 in 16 games. Both Opta and Statsbomb list Coventry with the highest expected goals generated from dead-balls, significantly ahead of Sheffield United in second. 

No team in the Championship has scored more goals from corners than Coventry’s 8. Some of it is due to having great delivery during their routines, particularly through Matt Grimes. Those corners are usually directed towards the likes of Bobby Thomas and Liam Kitching. Both are above average yet non-elite in terms of their aerial duel ability, but get fed so many aerial passes their way. When they do win their 1v1 battle, Coventry’s attackers in the box have great instincts for creating just enough breathing room to create havoc. 

In addition, this is complimented by them utilizing various patterns during corners, depending on whether it’s an inswinger or outswinger. Arguably the most common has been the stack formation, in which a bunch of Coventry players stand in a straight line and use diverting runs in opposite directions to confuse the opposition. When up against man-marking schemes during corners, purposeful movement is key to cause misdirection since opponents have to communicate to avoid potential mismatches. 

You see the stack sometimes in the NBA during out of bounds plays following a timeout, and it’s become part of the repertoire for clubs in England. Teams managed by Sean Dyche have used this in recent seasons, as an example. Normally, the line of players begins around the penalty spot, but when Coventry want to really put pressure on the goalkeeper, it starts much closer to the 6 yard box. Here is an example of this versus Norwich, although the end result was a foul.  

Part of the commotion in the example above involves picks/blocks to obstruct the marker’s ability to stay attached to their assignment. Coventry often makes use of those within the stack. In the Norwich match, they were able to get traction from blocking the opponent’s pathway and create some havoc. This is especially the case against the goalkeeper. When done properly, the opposition have a much tougher time patrolling the six yard box and can lead to very close range opportunities. Coventry have tried the stack configuration from outswingers, although it’s not had quite the same level of success. Opponents have been better at gameplanning to defend those attempts.  

It’s not just the stack formation where you see picks used to win the initial header, but it occurs in others as well. Another setup that Coventry have used this season is somewhat similar, which is just simply having 3 or more players in the 6 yard box in a pack to ask questions from the goalkeeper. All the while, there’s a pick set at the back post for the furthest player to get a running start into the fray. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto is key when it comes to these picks being set at the back post, or being a nuisance against the GK. 

You can see it below from a 36th minute corner versus West Brom. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto sets a pick for Thomas to get a runway towards goal. Although he doesn’t cleanly win the initial header himself, his presence helps occupy the opposition even more, allowing Josh Eccles to have a close range shot that’s saved.

These setups aren’t the most complex, but it’s been purposeful in getting that extra bit of space to get shots off. Even if Coventry are not able to create something from winning the initial duel and the opponents make the clearance, they’ve shown the awareness to still cause damage during the 2nd phase of corners. Coventry have also tried back post routines where two are hovering around the GK, and then as Grimes is about to launch an inswinging delivery, multiple players try to drag their markers around to find openings. Their first goal vs Sheffield Wednesday was illustrative of this approach, which caused confusion and an eventual tap-in from Brandon Thomas-Asante.

It’s clear that Coventry’s corners have been relatively simple yet effective. This is not limited to corners, as illustrated by their lofty goal total from set-pieces, but also throw-ins and indirect free kicks. Their five goals from throw-ins lead the Championship, three above 2nd place West Brom. Any chance possible, Milan van Ewijk will hoof it into the box in the hopes of a flick-on and corresponding movements in-tight. They’ll even try to have a player from outside the box sprint into it as another body for opponents to contend with. Until recently, they were tied in goals coming from indirect free-kicks at 3. They’ve been an all-around threat, which has made it harder for others to stop them. 

At some point, the set-piece gravy train will start to slow down for Coventry. No team ever scores at a near goal per game from these situations. They are running hot in terms of their set-piece goals versus expected (17 vs 12.14 according to Statsbomb). Within the xG that’s been generated, it includes several attempts around the goalline from knock downs, and that’s hard to maintain over the course of the season. Opponents will eventually become more resolute with their defending.

Even still, the amount of mileage gained from set-pieces by Coventry has been incredible. It helps in changing the game state in their favor. When they are able to take the lead, it’s easier to defend and counter against a desperate opponent while up a goal or two. In what was supposed to be a more wide open field this season in the Championship, Coventry’s set-piece prowess has given them a great chance at promotion back to the Premier League.

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