” Lampard said. “I think that was quite clear. I have to be careful how I comment after he heard the “The fourth official was saying, ‘What can you do?’

Frank Lampard admitted his displeasure at what he felt were tactical timeouts used by Hull City during his side’s 2-1 win at the CBS Arena on Saturday.

The Coventry City boss suggested he was annoyed by City’s ploy to get information into their players after 25 minutes of the first half, with the hosts well on top and dominating. Goalkeeper Ivor Pandur went down inside his box, calling for medical attention, and while that was happening, Ruben Selles’ players headed over to the touchline to get more instructions.

That enraged both the home players, staff and supporters, with Lampard commenting on it in his post-match media conference, admitting there was little referee Bobby Madley could do about it.

“No, I’m not (happy to use that tactic),” Lampard said. “I think that was quite clear. I have to be careful how I comment on this, but I think what happened was clear. And I think they have to look at it, it’s a modern thing, isn’t it?

“The fourth official was saying, ‘What can you do?’ which I get. I get one point, but you can probably stop the team talk on the pitch.

“There must be a way that referees can get some distance between all players going around the manager. It was very clear, wasn’t it? They didn’t even try to hide it, so let’s see what happens.”

On the game itself, Lampard hailed the impact of winger Ephron Mason-Clark, who gave City, and skipper Lewie Coyle in particular, a difficult afternoon.

“As a young winger, to have the ability to end up scoring goals, I think every goal he has scored for us now has been in and around the six-yard box, close to goal,” Lampard explained. “I have worked with a lot of wingers and some of them you have to beg them to get into the six-yard box, and the ball is on the other side and he’s ended up in there.