Sunderland vs Coventry City

Coventry City face the challenge of overcoming a 2-1 deficit from the first leg when they meet Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, aiming to secure a spot in the Championship playoff final.

In Friday’s semi-final opener, Sunderland clinched a 2-1 win over Coventry, with late goals from Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda sealing the result, despite Jack Rudoni’s 70th-minute goal keeping Coventry’s hopes alive.

Sunderland capitalized on quick counter-attacks in the first leg, with their second goal stemming from a defensive mistake by Coventry, as Mayenda pounced on a misplaced backpass from Milan van Ewijk to score the decisive goal in the 88th minute.

Those goals were a vital confidence boost for Sunderland, who had failed to find the net in five of their previous six matches.

However, manager Regis Le Bris will remain cautious about assuming a place in the Wembley final, recalling how Sunderland’s 2-1 lead over Luton Town in the 2022-23 playoff semi-final was overturned with a 2-0 loss in the second leg.

Despite their recent victory, Sunderland have struggled, losing each of their five prior games and going winless in six before the first leg.

At home, Sunderland have been particularly vulnerable, dropping their last three matches at the Stadium of Light by 1-0 scorelines and winning just three of their past 11 home games.

Coventry, meanwhile, managed only one clear scoring opportunity in the first leg, and with five of their last seven conceded goals coming after the 65th minute, manager Frank Lampard will likely emphasize the need for sustained concentration on Tuesday.

On November 9, Lampard's team tied 2-2 with Sunderland in the league to win a point. On March 15, his team defeated their hosts 3-0 in their second Championship match.

Coventry has lost six of their past eleven games and drawn one. They have also lost three of their last four games, with one victory.

In particular, the fact that the team has lost four of their last five road games and has not won any of those games will worry supporters.