Sunderland v Coventry City: Tips and predictions for Championship play-off semi-final second leg
Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard
Sunderland hold the advantage going into the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-final with Coventry. Can Frank Lampard's side turn the tie around or will the Black Cats triumph at home?
The big worry for Sunderland before the first leg was their terrible form. Winless in six, five of those defeats and just one goal. Truly awful.
But the play-offs are a funny beast, and the pressure can turn the form book upside down.
Before Friday night's clash, Coventry were unbeaten in 10 matches against Sunderland and had been put to the sword by a Haji Wright hat-trick in their previous meeting in March.
But that counts for nothing when a terrible backpass from Coventry's Milan van Ewijk gifted Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda the chance to take the lead in the dying moments of the clash.
But Coventry fans shouldn't be too downhearted, a 1-0 goal is nothing when it comes to play-off football.
Back in 2022/23 Sunderland were 2-1 up against Luton after the first leg only to lose the second leg 2-0.
What we can predict is plenty of chaos and panic, but sadly we can't bet on that, so we'll have to go with some more traditional tips.
Can Regis Le Bris' side keep their cool and book their place in the Wembley final, or will Frank Lampard find a bit more of that rocket fuel he discovered when he took the club from 17th at Christmas all the way to the play-offs.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(All odds are correct at time of article publication)
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Sunderland v Coventry bet builder
Both teams to score (yes) - 8/11
Thomas to have 1+ Shots - 8/11
Sunderland v Coventry match result - draw
Sunderland haven't been great at home recently, losing 1-0 in the last three and only winning three of the last 11 at the Stadium of Light.
Sadly for Coventry they've hardly been in sparkling form at the end of the season either, Coventry have been beaten in three of their four most recent fixtures and have lost six and drawn one of their last 11.
Worryingly away from home Coventry have lost four of the last five trips, the other a draw with Hull.
Both sides aren't great, a nervy draw should be enough to see Sunderland over the line.
Sheffield United won't be losing any sleep on who they face in the final.
Both teams to score - yes
Sunderland and Coventry have seen both teams to score land in six of their last ten meetings and neither are brilliant when it comes to clean sheets.
Coventry conceded two or more in five of their last six away games of the season, while Sunderland haven't kept a clean sheet in six.
The Sky Blues will have to come out and attack to level the deficit and now Sunderland have finally found their shooting boots they could find holes in their defence.
Over 1.5 goals
Goals have been in good supply in this fixtures in recent times, with at least two goals landing in six of the last seven matches between these two sides.
If you fancy bumping your odds up a little over 2.5 goals has landed in the last four.
Bobby Thomas to have 1+ shots
Coventry defender Bobby Thomas is a reliable source of 1+ shots especially wandering up for dead balls.
He had two shots against Sunderland on Friday, before that his stats read one against Middlesbrough and two against Portsmouth. Albeit he wasn't in the squad for the four games in between those fixtures.
Thomas has been a regular for most of the season, so he might have something to prove to Lampard.
Over 3.5 cards
Over 3.5 cards landed in the first leg and in four of the last five games between the sides.
It's a second leg and we are expecting some chaos, so the odd reckless challenge is likely.
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