Coventry City match analysis from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner looks as some of the talking points from Monday night's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham

Coventry City suffered their fifth Premier League defeat of the season at the hands of an improving Tottenham side but the performance was full of encouraging signs that the players are getting closer to the levels required to compete in top flight football.

This wasn’t a game in which the opposition turned up as bystanders, hoping for damage limitation at the hands of the big London club. This was a game that the Sky Blues were in from the start to deep in stoppage time when Ben Davies struck home Spurs’ third to secure the result for the hosts to give a scoreline that skewed the overall feel of the game.

Here we look at some of the talking points of Monday night's 3-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Stats don't tell the story

The first half possession stats showed Tottenham’s dominance of the ball with 71 percent of possession and a certain James Maddison pulling the strings and getting the early goal with an impressive first time strike from just outside the box which curled over Carl Rushworth and into the far corner.

But as with most games, this was another when fine margins dictated the final outcome and had Sidiki Cherif been more alert to Antonin Kinsky spilling Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s threatening cross, and then the Japanese winger’s shot not taken a deflection after he’d linked up with Milan van Ewijk to cut into the box, it would have been Coventry who would have had the early lead.

City upped their possession stats to 35 percent by the end of the game in which they had 26 touches inside Spurs’ box – two more than the hosts – and 12 shots to the home side’s 16, albeit only one on target. The point is, they contained Tottenham’s threat for the most part and caused problems of their own that needed some brilliant last ditch defending from the likes of Micky van de Ven who slid across to dispossess Thomas-Asante at the vital second.

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VAR margins

Talking of fine margins, on another night VAR may have decided in City’s favour. Having been on the right side of a controversial decision at Forest, who had a goal disallowed late on, the Sky Blues felt Omar Marmoush’s goal should have been chalked off for a foul on Van Ewijk.

“I think if you roll and your elbows are that high and it connects with Milan in the contact it did, I thought VAR would cancel it. I did, “ insisted Lampard.

“You have to be really careful how you choose your words after this because there’s no point in getting after the event to get too deep into it. But I absolutely felt that.”

The City boss also felt his players were on the wrong end of some other questionable decisions during the match: “The little bits add up, the corner (that wasn’t given) adds up, Brandon (Thomas-Asante) getting fouled and trying to stay on his feet and then another little action and you don’t get the advantage late into the game is a big deal for us. That’s all I’ll say about it.”

City's growing into level

Spurs may have had a poor start to their season but they are still a decent side packed full of talent in every position. Their athleticism, speed of thought, speed of touch, quick and slick passing and movement had the Sky Blues stretched at times but they dug in and showed resilience in their defending, particularly at the heart of the back four where Bobby Thomas continues to look the part alongside the experienced head of Ethan Pinnock.

As Frank Lampard was at pains to point out, he started with eight players who were among his Championship regulars last season. What they lack in world class quality, they more than make up for in grit, determination and belief that they are growing into the division and stepping up to the level to ensure they compete in every game.

He feels his players have shown a clear progression, and there's certainly plenty of confidence on display with the likes of Jack Rudoni again catching the eye and looking like he belongs in the Prem.

Need to start contributing

Lampard’s matchday squad selection added fuel to the rumours and off-field rumblings regarding summer signings Loum Tchaouna and Yann Gboho – both of whom didn’t make the teamsheet. That’s the second game running for former Burnley wide man Tchaouna.

Instead, Kaine Kesler-Hayden was there on merit, featuring in a game for the first time this season after recovering from a summer hamstring injury and thrown on late in the game for Jack Rudoni as City were pushing for a second equaliser. It’s clear to see why Lampard put the former Villa right-back on – having previously been used as an outlet further up the pitch to good effect due to his pace and eye for the odd goal.

But it did serve to highlight the absence of the two French lads who ought to be better placed to make that impact from the bench. The fact is the two were bought for over £30m (combined). We’re told they’re not injured but they need to start contributing, first and foremost by showing the manager in training that they deserve to be involved.