UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Frank Lampard admitted his conduct was “out of order” after triggering a post-match melee following Coventry City’s tense 1-1 draw at Southampton.
After the full-time whistle, Lampard stepped onto the field and repeatedly waved to the visitors’ manager, who had been the focus of abuse from Saints supporters in the latter part of the game. This caused players to react.
Regarding his response to being referred to as “a shit Steven Gerrard,” Lampard stated,
“I was probably emotional.”
“The fans had given me a bit in the last 10 minutes and I went on the pitch to give them a bit back. It was really out of order but I wouldn’t have had as long in this game if I wasn’t sometimes emotional on the pitch, and not a bad bloke off it.
I was very proud of the players and then it got a bit heated. Not every game came we shake hands and smile. I have no problem with their players or fans, this is a very good football club and I have always liked it. They might not have that back for me tonight but that’s fine. I was hyped because of what my players had done. I’m not a robot. I had 10 minutes of that and I think I’m allowed to have a little moment.”
Ephron Mason-Clark’s header from Victor Torp’s dink gave Coventry the lead in the first half, but after Jay Dasilva was sent off 85 seconds into the second half, Nathan Wood tied the score. The Brazilian wing-back’s shins were struck by the full-back’s studs as he steamrolled into Welington. Wood scored his first goal for Southampton in the 56th minute after Adam Armstrong’s precise assist.
In a terrible homecoming to west London for María Cifuentes, QPR crushed Leicester 4-1. Returning to Loftus Road for the first time since a contentious departure from Rangers earlier this year, the under-pressure Foxes manager watched his team give up four goals in a first half that his previous team completely dominated.
The hosts had total control after goals from Richard Kone, Karamoko Dembele, and Amadou Mbengue followed Koki Saito’s opening strike in the second minute. After Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s penalty kick in the 82nd minute struck a post, Silko Thomas scored his first goal for Leicester by thumping in the loose ball.
Since taking over in the summer, Cifuentes has had a grueling launch at Leicester, and this outgrowth puts him back under violent pressure following an encouraging seven points from their last three games.
Bristol City ended Kim Hellberg’s winning band as Middlesbrough director with an instigative 2- 0 palm at Ashton Gate with two pretensions from Emil Riis and substitute Rob Atkinson in each half.
After his first attempt was veered back into his path, Riis blasted a low right- footed shot past Sol Brynn from just outside the box to give the home platoon the lead in the 17th minute. After returning from injury, center- reverse Atkinson increased the lead with a close- range header from Scott Twine’s corner in the 62nd nanosecond, and the Robins resisted late pressure to secure the points from a game that did give both brigades credit.
At Deepdale, Norwich and Preston drew 1- 1 after Norwich gave up an equalizer with seconds left. After Jovon Makama believed he’d won it for the callers in the 84th minute, relief Will Keane pulled North End position from close range six minutes into cessation time.
Ipswich defeated Sheffield Wednesday 3- 1 at Portman Road to move up to third place in the standings. Liam Cooper pulled one reverse for the floundering Owls, while Cedric Kipre, Jaden Philogene, and Jack Clarke scored for the home teams. Still, Wednesday didn’t appear to be a platoon near the bottom of the table as they presented a number of pitfalls throughout. Despite being subtracted 18 points this season, they appear to be getting near to a preemption.
Hull defeated 10- man West Brom 1- 0 at the MKM Stadium thanks to a goal from Oli McBurnie, who scored for the third straight game since coming back from injury. Seven twinkles in, the striker, who had been out for nearly two months due to a shin issue, scored from the penalty spot.
Despite suffering back- to- back losses after losing 2- 0 against Blackburn, Millwall is still in the playoff zone. In the third minute, Andri Gudjohnsen scored his fourth in his previous seven games, and shortly before halftime, Yuki Ohashi increased the lead by exploiting a patient communication breakdown in the Millwall defense.
Alex Neil was incensed at his team’s performance in the first half, claiming they were “miles off” the desired standards.
“In possession and out of possession, we made it so easy for Blackburn. If I could have made more subs at half-time I would have. That’s how frustrated I was with the first half, especially if you look at how far our fans have travelled before Christmas and we serve up that first half. Unacceptable.”
With a goal from Luca Kjerrumgaard in the alternate half, Watford defeated Stoke 1- 0 after eventually prostrating the most brutal defense in the Championship. The Hornets have only lost formerly in their former ten home and down games, and the Danish striker’s goal in the 74th nanosecond extended their winning streak to nine games.
Sheffield United defeated Birmingham 3- 0 at Bramall Lane, continuing their comeback under Chris Wilder. Tyler Bindon and Gustavo Hamer scored in the first half, and Patrick Bamford added another against a club that played further than 70 minutes without a player after Tommy Doyle was transferred off.
Derby returned to draw 1- 1 at Pride Park, dragging Portsmouth’s long delay for a down palm. Callum Lang gave the callers an early lead, which looked promising, but Hayden Matthews’ thing in his own net on the stroke of halftime tied the score for the home teams. Despite having lots of possession, the home platoon was unfit to induce any clear openings until the very end.
Charlie Kelman scored the lone goal as Charlton defeated Oxford 1- 0 at The Valley to commemorate his injury comeback. After missing seven games due to a hamstring injury, it was the former QPR striker’s first game back. Just after the hour mark, Kelman took Isaac Olaofe’s place and scored a raptorial thing from the edge of the box to increase the U’s deportation worries.
They’ve only managed one point out of an implicit twelve. Charlton has not won since November 4th.
Phil Parkinson defended Arthur Okonkwo after the Wrexham goalkeeper’s 90th-minute blunder gave Swansea a 2-1 victory in the division’s Welsh clubs’ match on Friday night. Initially, Okonkwo was unable to catch Ethan Galbraith’s free kick, which spun into the air behind him and in the direction of Ben Cabango.
Parkinson said:
“It’s a high-profile mistake, but Arthur’s been outstanding. He’s been a colossus of a goalkeeper and he’ll get every bit of support because he’s won us a lot of points over the last few years.”
What did Southampton players say about the melee?
Frank Lampard went onto the pitch after the final whoosh to gesture back at Southampton suckers who had teased him with chants, including calling him a” s *** Steven Gerrard,” during the last 10 minutes of Coventry’s 1- 1 draw on December 20, 2025. No direct quotations from Southampton players about the ruckus appear in available reports following Coventry’s 1- 1 draw on December 20, 2025.
Southampton head trainer Tonda Eckert concentrated post-match on his platoon’s dominance despite the numerical advantage, stating they” played to win” with enough chances but demanded finishing, without addressing the conflict.
Players like Taylor Harwood- Bellis and Wellington brazed Lampard after his gestures toward suckers, rising into a brief brawl; Lampard latterly said he held” no issues” with Harwood- Bellis, viewing it as players defending their sympathizers.
