Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Coventry City – Play-off Semi Final 2nd leg Tuesday 13th May 2025 - KO 20:00

Even if it is or would have been considered it at any other point in the season - the occasion should make sure it isnt.

 

Can’t wait. Like I said previously - its a big game and we haven’t had many of those recently. Atmosphere should be immense

 

Agreed.

 

My nerves for tomorrow are bad enough, **** knows what state I will be in if we get to Wembley

 

This but ten times worse and for 11 days straight sounds ****ing great

 

Jolly good boys. We should all be singing our hearts out for the lads. #Till the end

 

I'm down in Wales from next monday till the Thursday so that will really help the days fly by.......

 

Think it will start a bit nervous but once weve had the first chance it'll be roaring.

Proper nervy place if they score first.

 

Nervous belly has kicked in

 

One thing from the press conferences. RLB said he didn’t think Coventry would try anything new, and Lampard confirmed that assertion. We know what to expect from them, but I don’t think they’ll know what to expect from us. We’re in a really strong position here. A lot to do, but these boys have got us so far. HAWAY

 

Regis Le Bris' tactical message ahead of second leg



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...actical-message-ahead-sunderlands-second-leg/

THEY might be defending a one-goal lead, but Regis Le Bris has urged his Sunderland players to adopt a “proactive approach” as they look to secure a place in the play-off final during tomorrow’s second-leg decider against Coventry.…

“The second goal on Friday changes nothing,” said Le Bris. “We have to win this game, this is in my mind. We have to start like the first game, we have to have the same mindset (to win). Games are unpredictable so you have to be proactive, you cannot try to protect. We have to try and win and then we will see at the end.

“Proactive is the main word. With the squad more or less fully available, we know we have different options. If we are in a conservative mindset, it doesn’t fit with this event, the identity of our club and our idea of how we want to play. We have to be proactive.”

“It’s not always about just our style, it's also about the opponent,” he said. “Coventry were strong, they played well.

With the starting XI we said, we had big strengths and some things that were not the strongest part of our game. The balance was right for this fixture, especially in the second half when we disturbed their patterns. We felt in this moment we were in the gameplan. In this environment, away from home, it was hard to control possession. We know the scenario will be different in this one. But if Coventry are strong again, the balance might be similar. But then if the output is the same, we will all be happy.”
….
“I don't agree that it is about possession," said Le Bris. "If the opponent is strong, we are Sunderland with our qualities. We have a strong defensive block, we can defend, recover the ball and attack quickly.

“This is Sunderland, this is our identity. If we have 25 per cent possession and win 2-0, I don't think our fans will mind. We like having the ball, we want it, of course. I won't say that we accept this level of possession, but it was how the game went, and we knew that in this dynamic we could win the game.

“We want the ball, but we are not Barcelona. In this scenario we knew we could unbalance our opponent, the xG (expected goals) was similar and we scored twice. Once after a mistake yes, but we provoked it with a press.”

 

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...s-romaine-mundle-will-bench-play-off-decider/

“Romaine is available,” said Le Bris. “With Aji we will have to wait a little later, maybe one more week. With Romaine he is ready to play maybe ten, 15, 20, 25 minutes. We know that he can’t start at the minute, it is not possible, but he is a strong option to have on the bench.”

Earlier in the season, Le Bris suggested he was reluctant to play Patrick Roberts in back-to-back matches within the same week. The winger has previously struggled with hamstring issues, but his appearance record this season suggests he has become much more resilient and Le Bris insists he would have no concerns about starting with Roberts tomorrow, even though he played for 86 minutes before being withdrawn at the CBS Arena.

Roberts’ threat from the flanks could form an important part of Sunderland’s game-plan as they look to make it to Wembley, although Le Bris claims the 28-year-old’s defensive attributes also now form a key part of his appeal.

“This season, Patrick has shown great consistency. That wasn’t really the case last season or maybe the season before. He is in a good place and is a really strong team-mate.

“He showed again at Coventry how important he was in the out-of-possession phase. He is a winger, really talented and technical, but he was also a strong team-mate out of possession for us. Patrick was really important for us, and I think he will be ready to start tomorrow.”

 

Apart from Burridge who had a sore head.

 

Sick of it me like.

 

One of the fans groups. Be FaF if true.

Just been on talk sport, Adrian Durham mates at the SOL we've moved the LED boards in by 2metres to stop Coventry taking long throw ins

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Good. It's about time we made the place hard for the opposition to play. Been too nice for too long.

 

Class do everything to **** them up I'm all for it.

 

Adriana Durham's mate on talksport saying we've moved the advertising boards in 2 metres to stop the long throws, brilliant if true.

Too late again, someone always beats me to it

 

Sheffield United playing Ready To Go over the speakers. Got a sick feeling in my stomach just hearing it