Sunderland are aiming to return to the Premier League for the primary time since 2017 however head into the Championship play-offs towards Coventry Metropolis with out tasting victory since early April.
Regis Le Bris’ facet assured their place within the play-offs with 5 video games to spare however have been stuttering as of late, having suffered defeat in all of their remaining video games all through the build-up to their two-legged tie with the Sky Blues, reside on Sky Sports activities.
So as to add to their woes, the Black Cats have netted simply the one objective throughout their final six outings within the second tier and are available into this fixture brief on the boldness that fired them into the dialog for automated promotion earlier within the marketing campaign.
High goalscorer Wilson Isidor final added to his tally of 12 for the season again in February, the place he netted the opening objective throughout a 2-1 defeat to champions Leeds United. His counterpart Eliezer Mayenda has one objective in his final 9 appearances.
Talking forward of the fixture, Le Bris defined the dip in kind for his facet, the place he mentioned: “We misplaced momentum as a result of we secured fourth place early. We had nothing to chase.
“Look what’s happened to PSG. It can happen to the biggest teams (losing momentum). We have something to chase again now.”
In the meantime, Frank Lampard’s facet, who’ve been fired to inside touching distance of the Premier League as soon as once more regardless of dwelling in seventeenth when he succeeded Mark Robins in November, come into the fixture filled with perception.
Whereas Sunderland stuttered, Coventry continued to grind out outcomes to maintain the likes of Blackburn, Millwall and West Brom at bay and completed because the sixth most in-form staff throughout the Championship throughout the ultimate six fixtures.
“It is bizarre to go from playing meaningless football to it meaning everything. It is rare to be able to switch it on again,” mentioned Sky Sports activities’ Andy Hinchcliffe on the Important EFL podcast.
“This is really challenging, you don’t want to play Coventry given the form they’re in. Sunderland have been treading water, I can’t remember a team that has been in this position before. It can suddenly turn when the pressure is on, but this is not ideal for them.
“They had been difficult for the highest two for a very long time. However do not be shocked in the event that they do swap it on. The Stadium of Gentle shall be electrical.”
Sky Sports’ Gary Weaver echoed the claims made on the podcast, where he emphasised how “bizarre” it was to witness the scenario that has unfolded at Sunderland throughout current weeks.
The latest disappointment for Le Bris’ facet arrived on the ultimate day of the common season when his facet suffered a 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers, earlier than being booed off the pitch at residence following their dismal run of kind.
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Highlights of the Sky Wager Championship match between Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers
Weaver added: “It’s a weird situation. Sunderland have been booed off against QPR and that is not the send-off they wanted. They will be glad this is over and let’s not forget how good they have been, they are victims of their own success due to being in fourth for so long.
“We have not actually spoken about it in the previous few weeks, as they had been assured fourth, it was like they went off the radar.
Sunderland’s possibilities of promotion together with the playoffs throughout the Championship season
“The last two games are the playoff team. Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda are not in goalscoring form and suddenly they need to flip that switch. They have a chance to reset now.
“That is three video games to get to the Premier League, I am positive the gamers shall be motivated. It is likely one of the strangest conditions for these gamers; the video games have had no jeopardy, and now they face the most important sport of their lives.
“It will be interesting to see if the players can turn it back on.”
The primary leg of the tie shall be performed on the CBS Enviornment on Friday, earlier than the second leg within the north east on Tuesday, and Le Bris’ facet mustn’t undergo the identical destiny as their final go to to Coventry, in the event that they need to maximise the impression their residence crowd can have within the reverse fixture.
The 2 sides final met in March and it was Haji Wright’s hat-trick on the afternoon that secured all three factors in a dominant win for the hosts.
On the threats Coventry have which make an identical scoreline unfolding a threat for Sunderland, Hinchcliffe added: “Coventry, you look at the form, they are the only one of the four that rank in the top six.
“Sunderland are all-time low. One single level within the final six video games and one single objective. They may have loads of considerations.
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“Frank has done an amazing job. You look at the make-up of Coventry, look at the individuals, the goalkeeping situation is interesting. Ben Wilson coming back into the side and Milan van Ewijk is the second-best right-back in the Championship.
“Matt Grimes is a large signing for them by way of controlling matches. That may very well be a masterstroke from Lampard.
“Jack Rudoni is the most in form attacker for all four sides and Haji Wright backs him up too. They have a lot of dangerous players but Sunderland will be happy they’re at home in the second leg.”
Watch Coventry vs Sunderland within the first leg of the Championship semi-final reside on Sky Sports activities Soccer and Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion from 7pm on Friday.
