Coventry Metropolis v Sunderland: Championship playoff semi-final, first leg – reside | Championship
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Key occasions
32 min: Unbelievable one-touch passing from Coventry – particularly distinctive from Sakamoto – however Rudoni’s closing cross to Van Ewijk is headed away.
29 min: Wright and Hume alternate some phrases after the Sunderland right-back fouled and pushed the winger within the chest. The referee has a phrase with them each however no playing cards given.
27 min: Wow! Coventry at the moment are on the entrance foot once more. Mayenda seems to be for a comfortable foul after getting the ball knicked off him however the referee is just not . Wright cuts it again for Sheaf whose shot is blocked earlier than Wright was flagged for offside as he tried to poke the ball in. A variety of our bodies within the field there with Ballard throwing his physique down, placing the whole lot into attempting to dam a shot.
23 min: Sunderland likelihood! Mayenda reveals nice persistence from the midway line regardless of little assist and a blur of blue shirts. He will get a shot away from about 25 yards regardless of strain from Kitching however it’s extensive.
21 min: Our first reserving of the match goes to Cirkin who flies in towards Sakamoto; doesn’t get wherever close to the ball. Can Coventry get this free-kick from the precise proper? It’s a nice ball in however Neil heads away.
Coventry’s ensuing free-throw breaks kindle to Sheaf, who isn’t being marked, however he completely shanks his shot.
17 min: Coventry dominating possession with 73% however up to now nonetheless at arms size. Sakamto with an ideal faux and switch close to the midway line earlier than laying it off to Rudoni however Sunderland clear the subsequent go.
15 min: Nice motion from Thomas-Asante. He splits between the 2 centre-halves and regardless that he can’t kind out his first contact, each Sunderland defenders are caught ball watching.
12 min: Coventry take pleasure in some possession on the again earlier than Thomas hits it lengthy for Wright however the ahead fails to manage. The ensuing throw-in goes lengthy into the field however Patterson makes the precise choice this time and comes out to catch the ball.
9 min: Bellingham makes use of his fast toes to skip by a number of challenges and wins a free-kick on the midway line. Le Charge overhits the lifeless ball however Hume loses his marker and stretches to get a connection on it. He’s unable to cross it within the field although.
5 min: Coventry get ahead however Rudoni fails to get a shot away contained in the penalty space. Sunderland on the backfoot early on right here.
3 min: Coventry win three early successive corners. The second, taken by Rudoni, is a poor ball in and is headed out by Bellingham.
The third is harmful for the guests. Patterson comes off his line however weakly flaps on the ball. He’s nowhere close to it and he will get caught in a tangle of our bodies. Wright might have had a tap-in however Sunderland get fortunate.
Kick-off: Coventry 0-0 Sunderland
Right here we go! Sunderland get us underway in traditional crimson and white whereas Coventry don sky blue.
The groups come out from the tunnel on the Coventry Constructing Society Enviornment and each units of followers are in full voice. We’re minutes away now from the primary leg of this semi-final.
Lampard speaks to Sky Sports activities earlier than kick-off
We’re comfortable to be right here and an ideal feeling to get right here final week however you begin once more now for 2 actually powerful matches towards a crew who completed above us within the desk. So we ready for the sport, now we have our dwelling followers behind us and lets attempt to carry out properly.
And one other one – Peter with some rhyming phrases earlier than kick-off:
Sunderland have a supervisor named Le Bris and a participant referred to as Le Charge? Shall I open a Pinot Gris? Pair it with a Brie? Bon appétit!
Very fancy for the Championship certainly!
Followers of each groups are being interviewed on Sky Sports activities with a combined bag of views – some are assured, some are tentative.
Let’s see what my pre-match postbag is saying:
Jeremy writes:
Smug Leeds fan right here, re-living the 24 play-offs we needed to undergo and nonetheless misplaced. Appears to me it is a foregone conclusion. The Black Cats are coming into it with lead boots, heads stuffed with “what may haves” and nervous eyes over their shoulders, whereas Frank’s boys are on a roll, they’ve momentum and the attention of the tiger gleaming, their prey in clear view. Can Coventry spring a shock, after which one other one and change into the brand new Luton? It’s a humorous previous sport, soccer …
And Allen says:
I actually love the distinction between Le Bris and Lampard – it’s so fascinating. One had a modest taking part in profession earlier than working his manner by the teaching ranks at Lorient, whereas the opposite is a much-decorated former England worldwide who has had administration expertise at Derby, Chelsea and Everton. I’m, in fact, a Sky Blue for all times so hoping the larger identify will get the job completed at this time.
Regis Le Bris mentioned he instructed his younger crew the time has come to face up and be counted on. The French head coach needs extra and has challenged a squad which incorporates the youngsters Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg to rise to the problem.
It’s anticipated. They’ve this potential as a result of they confirmed so many qualities this season. Now it’s time to ship – and I believe they anticipate this.
They’re excited, able to go and on the identical time, with simply the small dose of doubt, which is basically helpful to be aggressive.
I simply wish to enhance and develop the squad, to assist the membership develop and to develop me as a supervisor. On the finish of the season, I shall be a greater coach than after I began right here.
Frank Lampard has admitted he had no expectation of guiding Coventry to the Championship play-offs when he took the job in November.
We had been seventeenth for a motive. This membership’s had some actually good success in shifting up the leagues lately, reaching the play-off closing [in 2023], the FA Cup semi-finals [last season]. So there’s nice credit score however this season we weren’t the place we wish to be.
We had been in all probability in a relegation battle at that time. So I didn’t anticipate it in any respect. However on the identical I got here in, I needed to be assured within the squad. I needed to make us higher. And at that time it was how a lot better? What number of steps can we take?
The remainder is right down to lots of people within the constructing. To start with the gamers, you possibly can’t do something with out the gamers, but additionally the need and keenness of the possession and all people who works right here on the coaching floor, and the followers who’ve actually gone with us.
Right here is Michael Butler’s verdict from about three months in the past on how Lampard silenced doubters by main his resurgent aspect with the most efficient midfield within the division.
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo is rooting for his former membership Sunderland tonight. He wrote on X: “I wish to want Good luck to Sunderland for the semis.”
The 22-year-old was on mortgage at Sunderland throughout the 2022–23 season the place he performed 42 matches in all competitions.
Listed below are a few of Opta’s pre-match stats:
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Sunderland are winless throughout every of their final 13 away video games towards Coventry in all competitions (D5 L8), since a 1-0 victory at Highfield Highway within the top-flight in April 1985, whereas they’ve failed to attain in three of their final 4 visits.
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Coventry have gained seven of their final eight dwelling league video games (L1), together with a 3-0 win over Sunderland. Since Frank Lampard’s first sport accountable for the membership in late November, solely Leeds United and Bristol Metropolis (each 36) have picked up extra factors at dwelling within the Championship than the Sky Blues (35).
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Coventry have beforehand featured within the EFL play-offs twice, in 2017-18 in League Two and 2022-23 within the Championship. Throughout their six matches in complete, the Sky Blues stay unbeaten (W3 D3), failing to earn promotion to the Premier League within the 2022-23 Championship play-off closing on penalties towards Luton City.
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This would be the ninth time that Sunderland have ended the season within the EFL play-offs, doing so in 4 of their final 5 league campaigns. Throughout their prior eight semi-final ties, the Black Cats have gained simply one among their eight away legs (D2 L5), a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in 1989-90.
How do issues stand within the different semi-final, you ask? Effectively, final evening Sheffield United took a large step in the direction of Wembley with a 3-0 win at Bristol Metropolis final evening.
Ben Fisher was at Ashton Gate the place he reported:
United arrived into this tie with a wretched report, too, having did not prevail in any of their earlier 9 playoff campaigns. Wilder was on the books of the Blades when their hoodoo started in a relegation playoff defeat towards Metropolis in 1987-88. “I don’t assume half of our gamers had been born,” Wilder mentioned, smiling.
United noticed an early purpose dubiously disallowed for offside towards Sydie Peck, after Tyrese Campbell thought he had opened the scoring having latched on to Kieffer Moore’s flick from the captain Jack Robinson’s lengthy throw. United’s gamers had begun celebrating of their numbers when the assistant referee raised his flag on the far aspect. One away supporter was ejected for letting off a flare, his night within the West Nation over inside a dozen minutes.
United had a pair extra probabilities earlier than taking the lead from the spot approaching the interval, Campbell and Moore each fluffing their traces.
Louise Taylor’s preview seems to be on the historical past between these two sides and the way they’ve developed underneath Lampard and Le Bris respectively.
Though they’ve been in a type of limbo since sealing a playoff place in early April, a big enchancment shall be required if Sunderland are to beat a Coventry aspect reborn underneath Frank Lampard’s administration in Friday evening’s semi-final first leg within the Midlands.
When Lampard succeeded Mark Robins in November they had been seventeenth; now Wembley and, probably, the Premier League beckon. Two years in the past, a Coventry crew that includes Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres in assault fell on the final, dropping the playoff closing to Luton on penalties. Now Sunderland should take care of one of many sport’s rising stars in Jack Rudoni.
Group information
Coventry XI (4-2-3-1): Wilson; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Sheaf, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright; Thomas-Asante
Subs: Collins, Latibeaudiere, Binks, Paterson, Allen, Mason-Clark, Simms, Eccles, Bidwell
Sunderland XI (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Bellingham, Neil; Roberts, Le Charge, Mayenda; Isidor
Subs: Moore, Browne, Rigg, Samed, Seelt, Mepham, Hjelde, Watson, Jones
Referee: John Busby
Preamble
Howdy and welcome to that point of the 12 months once more: the Championship playoffs. Tonight is the primary leg of the second semi-final with Coventry internet hosting Sunderland on the Coventry Constructing Society Enviornment.
The 2 groups completed fifth and fourth within the desk respectively and whereas Sunderland could have been seven factors away from Coventry, it’s Frank Lampard’s aspect who will getting into to this tie in higher type. Régis Le Bris will hope to information his aspect again to the Premier League for the primary time since 2017 however they haven’t recorded a win since early April.
A lot on the road. Be part of me for crew information and buildup earlier than the 8pm BST kick-off. And, as at all times, be happy to ship me an e mail along with your ideas, questions, predictions, complaints and pre-playoff rituals. I wish to hear all of it!
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