Sunderland host Coventry in the second leg of their play-off semi-final in 2024-25 Championship.
With a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Sunderland simply need to avoid defeat to book their place in the play-off final on Saturday 24 May.
Coventry simply must win by at least a two-goal margin to complete a second-leg comeback although a win by an one-goal margin would force extra time and potentially penalties.
Team News
Romain Mundle could return for Sunderland after recovering from a hamstring injury which saw him miss their last seven matches.
Aji Alese (leg), Jayden Danns (back), Ahmed Abdullahi (groin), Ian Poveda (unspecified) and Niall Huggins (knee) remain sidelined.
Coventry have no fresh injury concerns to report after the first leg.
Norman Bassette (quad) is again a doubt for selection.
Oliver Dovin (ACL), Ephron Mason-Clark (foot) and Victor Torp (ankle) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Sunderland host Coventry at Stadium of Light on Tuesday 13 May at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sunderland won 2-1 in their only previous play-off clash against Coventry, which came away in the first leg of this play-off semi-final tie.
- Coventry are unbeaten in their last five visits to Sunderland (W2, D3).
- The Sky Blues’ six league goals against Sunderland this season all came from Jack Rudoni and Haji Wright, with Rudoni having scored twice and Wright having netted four goals in three meetings.
- Sunderland are unbeaten at home in EFL play-offs (W6, D1).
- Coventry have won each of their two previous away legs in EFL Play-Off semi-finals (W2), as they won 4-1 at Notts County in 2018 League Two Play-Offs then 1-0 at Middlesbrough in 2023 Championship Play-Offs.
Prediction
Having executed a clinical victory in the first leg with a clever tactical switch to a 4-4-2 formation and some superb counter-attacking play, Sunderland now need to replicate that display but be more switched on defensively in the minutes after scoring if want to avoid letting their aggerate lead slip.
Coventry on the other hand need to be more clinical and composed in their final touches because they were the more dominant team in the first leg, yet lacked a penetrating sharp to beat Sunderland’s resilient defensive effort so I would like to see them bring more intensity and pace to pressure the hosts’ defence more.
Throw in the unbeaten home and away record of both respective teams in EFL Play-Offs and this is certainly a game where the first goal could well be crucial to the outcome, but I do think that Sunderland will ultimately get over the line courtesy of the first leg win.
Prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Coventry
Result: Sunderland 1-1 (AET) Coventry (Sunderland win 3-2 on aggregate)