Match Day Thread Coventry City v Sunderland AFC – Play-off Semi Final 1st Leg - Friday 9th May 2025 - KO 20:00

Almost 97 minutes played and 98 passes completed by Sunderland

get in there total football

 

Fawanews mate

 

Fawanews mat

No need to say it twice lol

 

I didn't even notice the dance cool as ****. This is how I wished I looked walking into a club in my younger days!

 

Exactly this mate.

 

I look more Bolo than Mayenda or Gyan

 

Ah Babyjet.

 

Just watched the highlights of the second to see the elf celebration before Mayenda has even scored, shows what the lad must do in training that he had such confidence in him to finish it.

Also the poster who said that Mayendas anticipation made the goal is 100% bang on. Have I mentioned before now much I love Mayenda? Class, so happy he came good after last season! Seems to love it aswell!

 

Even that would be a step up for me!

 

Link to this please

 

It was just the extended highlights on safc youtube so wasn't clearest on my phone but see him chuck his arms up the air pretty much as mayenda takes control of the ball.

I'm sure someone more tech savvy will be able to edit it for just that bit.

 

We all need to get on the Cov players backs and scream for cards. I’m convinced those yellows made a difference.
im on holiday on the 25th btw which is a bastard.

 

Cheers I'll have a look. Love owt like that ha

 

I’m still absolutely buzzing. All I wanted to see was the effort and mentality of the lads at high again and we got it

 

Morning campers. Quiet one last night was it?

First thought from me. That was a great coaching performance. I wanted pace behind their full backs and thought we needed Watson. To play the two strikers though was really smart. It gave us the pace but also double the threat against probably Coventrys weak spot. And it no doubt confused Frankie boy. Then to have Ballard in and do what he did - take a bow Regis. I prefer to watch a different style of play personally, but as a Sunderland fan I absolulelty loved what I saw last night. In particular the second half.

What a defensive showing. Ballard was immense. One of the better defensive showings for a long time as an individual. Anyone remember big Stan Varga debut against Arsenal? Bit like that. Big shout for ONien too mind, really complemented him.

Neil played like a real leader I thought. He was disciplined and he never got out of position once as far as I could tell. He still had that 360 degree view in his head, and real clarity to take the ball on and release Le Fee for the first goal too. Would have been easy to play it up field blind. That is the sort of play coaches look for in holding midfielders. Jobe alongside him was immense too, another hugely disciplined game. At 19 it is ridiculous he can play in so many ways.

I thought the two lads up front scared Cov all night. The pace they had seemed to affect the CBs who always seemed to give themselves 5 yards. I have to call out Mayendas goal though. That is just class. He reads it and gambles which is amazing. Then the calmness to shimmy, sit the keeper down and finish is magical. I would be so surprised if some really big clubs are taking notice of him. He has literally everything.

Lastly Wilson lad. A finish of a lad who hasnt lost confidence. Delighted for him and us. A buzzing Isidor must be infectious around the place.

Brilliant all round lads. And to those of you who were there - massive thanks - you sounded fantastic and did your jobs from the stands.

Haway the lads. Love this bunch.

 

Would be unreal to see mundle come in on Tuesday and we play more front footed. I think if we play the same at home they’ll have worked it out by then

 

Not a dig but to those that are a bit more negative than me. Does that performance by the team and RLB give you more faith for the future. He held them back once we were guaranteed 4th and it worked a treat.
And in KLD and his decision making with regards to picking coaches.

 

Oh also there’s no player i’m more buzzing for than Wilson btw

Waited ages for the right service, took pelters from fans, people saying he hasn’t looked interested since signing his deal.

Then takes that big chance he gets in a big game.

He will be buzzing!

 

Fair question.

I seen more defensive resolve last night than I expected TBH. We have been weak at the back but the conservative shape helped big time.

Be really interesting to how we approach the home tie. Not sure we will be so deep and low block, how does that play out?

 

Excellent from Riggy to create that chance as well. It looked an absolute lost cause but he chased the ball to the sideline and managed to hook his foot round to play Mayenda in.