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

I think that Isidor is probably the better option with Le Fee centrally. Big pitch at Wembley, lots of space to run into. I think Wilson's runs could be vital (am thinking Boro away and Coventry away) but I won't be devastated if Mayenda starts.

 

I'd love Mundle to play from the start and get a good 70 minutes from him. Just think it's too much too soon on a big Wembley pitch.

Last 30 mins-ish and Sheff U's tiring legs would really struggle to cope with a fresh Mundle imo.

 

Mayenda on the right?

 

It was great to see Amad making the journey up to support the lads despite now establishing himself as a top Premier league player. It just goes to show how much his time up here meant to him.
Id love to see him come back one day in the future.

I really hope Mundle gets the nod over Roberts in the final. He'll be fully fit and raring to go by next Saturday. Its blatantly obvious now that Roberts offers us feck all anymore, and is a major weak link in the team.

 

I'd play Rigg there. Roberts is fast becoming a liability unfortunately - we put up with him when he works hard defensively AND offers a threat going forward (even with a lack of end product) but when he's effectively blunted going forward as he has been the last few games then I don't see what he offers.

Patterson
Hume Ballard O'Nien Cirkin
Jobe Neil
Rigg LeFee Mundle
Isidor​

Subs: Moore, Mepham, Alese, Hjelde, Samed, Browne, Watson, Roberts, Mayenda

 

Agree,there's no way the lad will be match fit....on the bench ready to come on if we need to change it. I'm hoping we start with both Wilson and Mayenda. Their pace and movement to find the spaces will be vital imo.

 

Id be more than happy with that lineup, but id prefer to see Mayenda get the nod over Isidor.

Surely Regis must see that Roberts is the weak link, and now he has options with Mundle being fit he no longer has to start. He made a big call dropping Mepham for Ballard, despite Mepham being arguably our best player this season. I really hope he has it in him again by leaving Roberts on the bench.

 

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...s-sunderland-coventry-city-leo-hjelde-5129272

.... Hjelde was introduced in the 120th minute of the second leg with the tie seemingly set for penalties following Ephron Mason-Clark's goal. Dan Ballard's sensational header with the last play of the game secured Sunderland's place at Wembley without the need for a shoot out, and head coach Régis Le Bris confirmed afterwards that Hjelde's introduction was made partially with the prospect of spot kicks in mind.

Le Bris said: "Yeah, Leo was an option for that. He's not the worst [in training]!"

The Sunderland coach and his staff had begun to assemble their list of potential takers in the closing minutes of extra time, before Ballard delivered one of the greatest moments in the history of the Stadium of Light.

"Our preparation for penalties started three or four weeks ago," Le Bris said. "So we were looking at our plans, with the opportunity still to score. We were looking at our list, who could score. We were ready, if needed. But the corner kick was absolutely fantastic for Ballard. The players deserve to live this moment and now we have a fantastic final to play."

Le Bris said his Sunderland side know what a difficult task they will face against Sheffield United but urged his players to go on and make history.

“They were really good in their semi-final,” Le Bris said. “I think they are a good team – well-organised with different threats. They have good experience, they were in the Premier League last season, so we know it will be another tough challenge. To be promoted at the end of the season, though, you have to break something or do something special. It will be tough, but we will have our ambition and our desire to win. We will need all the quality and character we have within the group, but our ambition is to win promotion.”

 

Good shout , but swap Isidor and Mayenda around if you are going to play just one at the start, Isidor rolling about in agony every time hes touched will not have gone unnoticed by Wilder, refs must hatve sussed him and it does not help the team if we go down to 10. Next game is so huge and Mayenda is our safest best bet from the off imo. Cant afford any risk in this one..

Spot on, the starting front line is so unballanced just to include him , it borders on the ridiculous , we have much better options imo.

 

No mate, just moaning about moaning mate haha

 

Thanks for that. Seeing as the wife stupidly booked this hol in Crete I missed it. But the atmosphere came across brilliantly. Credit to the lad.

 

By the way..a divorce may be coming.

 

I don't mind Lampard tbh and have no issues with what he said. Its his team and he's going to big them up. Imagine being a Coventry fan, player or manager when ballard scored. It must have been ****ing horrendous and i have sympathy for their genuine football fans after that. We've suffered more than most so can have some empathy with them. But that's football
Over the two legs, Coventry had more of the ball and dominated possession but I still think we had the better, clearer chances over 210 minutes.
I'll say it again but I really hope the manager adopts a more positive approach in final.

 

Coventry......

 

Been having a sneak at the Sheff Utd you tube channels and their Fans forum.... Seemingly all they have to do is turn up... In fact they mainly discussing what positions they need to strengthen "when" they are in the PM.....Not IF.... fair enough....lets see.

 

I’m more than happy with the underdog narrative, zero pressure on us and we’ve already shown we can beat them

 

Coventry thought the same...

 

I’ve been reading what a fabulous player Luke is, going across to each Coventry player and consoling them.
He actually said, that’s karma for you, you cheating twats.

 

Best angle by far