Visitors Coventry City must overturn Sunderland's 2-1 first-leg lead on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light if they are to advance into the Championship playoff final.
The Black Cats emerged as 2-1 victors against the visitors in the first clash of their semi-final tie on Friday thanks to goals from Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda in the closing 22 minutes of the game, though Jack Rudoni's 70th-minute strike means Coventry could still progress.
Match preview
© Imago
Sunderland scored twice from counter-attacks against the Sky Blues on Friday, though they benefitted significantly from an error from their opponents in defence for their second goal when Mayenda latched onto Milan van Ewijk's backpass and netted the winner in the 88th minute.
The hosts' goals against Coventry were important for boosting the team's confidence considering they had failed to score in five of their prior six games.
Boss Regis Le Bris will be wary of celebrating reaching the final at Wembley too early given his side led 2-1 against Luton Town after the first leg of their 2022-23 playoff semi-final but lost the second leg 2-0.
While the Black Cats did achieve victory last time out, they suffered defeats in each of their previous five matches and were winless in six.
Sunderland have also lost their last three home fixtures 1-0, and they have only triumphed in three of their past 11 at the Stadium of Light.
© Imago
Opponents Coventry only created one big chance against the Black Cats when they faced off in the first leg, and given five of the last seven goals they have conceded have come in the 65th minute or later, head coach Frank Lampard will be keen to stress the importance of staying focused on Tuesday.
The visitors have struggled at both ends of the pitch in the closing stages of the season, scoring just four times in their four most recent outings while conceding on six occasions.
Lampard's side earned a point at Sunderland in the league on November 9 when they drew 2-2, before his team won 3-0 against their hosts in their second Championship clash on March 15.
Coventry have been beaten in three of their four most recent fixtures – winning one – and have lost six and drawn one of their last 11.
Supporters will be particularly concerned by the fact the club have failed to achieve victory in any of their past five trips away from home, losing four of those clashes.
Team News
© Imago
Sunderland come into the clash without defender Ajibola Alese, so expect Trai Hume, Daniel Ballard, Luke O'Nien and Dennis Cirkin to appear in the backline.
Jobe Bellingham and Dan Neil were stationed in a double pivot in the first leg, and they are almost certain to feature together again.
With forwards Ian Poveda and Romaine Mundle unavailable due to injury, Mayenda and Isidor may be supported by Enzo Le Fee and Patrick Roberts.
As for Coventry, they could field an attacking unit consisting of Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni, Haji Wright and Brandon Thomas-Asante considering Norman Bassette is not scheduled to return until the end of the month.
Midfielder Victor Torp has also been ruled out, and his absence may lead to the selection of Matt Grimes and Ben Sheaf.
Despite his mistake last time out, Milan van Ewijk will likely start on the right of a back four alongside defenders Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching and Jay Dasilva.
Sunderland possible starting lineup:
Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Le Fee; Mayenda, Isidor
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Grimes, Sheaf; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright; Thomas-Asante
We say: Sunderland 1-1 Coventry City (Sunderland win 3-2 on aggregate)
After the club's experience of missing out on the Championship playoff final in 2022-23, Sunderland could play cautiously against the visitors.
However, it is difficult to look past the fact that Coventry have not fared well on their travels in recent weeks, and it would not be surprising if the hosts reached Wembley.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
