Sunderland v Coventry: Championship playoff semi-final, second leg – reside | Championship
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Key occasions
69 minutes: A primary change for Coventry developing, with Josh Eccles approaching. It’s been a scrappy, spiky final 10 minutes.
68 minutes: Coventry cope with the subsequent nook, however keeper Ben Wilson and Jobe Bellingham find yourself in a scuffle, Wilson accusing the Sunderland man of holding him down. Simply relax, everybody. Each gamers are ultimately booked.
66 minutes: Ooof! Le Price’s cross is volleyed in the direction of the close to publish by Trai Hume – however Wilson will get down to show it behind. That’s in all probability the very best likelihood Sunderland have made, definitely within the second half.
65 minutes: A extremely sensible contact from Patrick Roberts to set Mayenda away down the proper. His cross is blocked behind for a nook, and he calls on the house followers to make some noise.
63 minutes: Coventry push ahead as soon as extra, however Wright slips within the space and the ball trundles out for a objective kick. Ballard is down after a collision with Thomas, however must be OK to proceed.
62 minutes: Grimes combines with Sakamoto, whose cross is cleared behind for a nook. Once more, Patterson doesn’t declare it convincingly, however his defenders do sufficient.
61 minutes: A uncommon quiet spell as everybody contained in the Stadium of Mild catches their breath.
59 minutes: Ballard heads away to concede a nook, which is handled by Dan Neil on the close to publish. Some drained legs on the market now – is both supervisor interested by making adjustments?
58 minutes: Sunderland discovering just a little house upfield now, and Roberts scuffs a shot vast after Isidor fails to attach with a cross.
56 minutes: Coventry have 67% possession, and 3 times extra touches within the Sunderland field than vice versa. All very nicely, however they want a objective.
55 minutes: Sunderland know one objective might kill Coventry’s momentum, and so they lastly get upfield right here. Hume’s cut-back results in shouts for a penalty as Cirkin collides with Sakamoto. Not a lot in that, for me.
54 minutes: Grimes’ ball in is one other tester, cleared away by Bellingham. Sakamoto, who’s been nice together with his toes, then commits a second foul throw of the sport.
52 minutes: Loads of nervous faces within the house crowd now, with Coventry trying the extra threatening facet now. Mason-Clark will get past Hume simply and is introduced down on the nook of the realm …
51 minutes: Grimes sends the nook lengthy to Sakamoto, whose shot is closed down. It rebounds to Van Ewijk, whose effort from 30 yards out flies vast. Coventry making a powerful begin to this second half, although.
50 minutes: A beautiful backheel from Da Silva creates house for Luke Kitching, who will get to the byline however sees his in the reduction of blocked by Bellingham. Coventry nook …
49 minutes: Haji Wright takes a heavy contact, then goes over below contact from Hume on the sting of the realm. Nothing doing from the ref – the Coventry ahead appeared to be exaggerating the contact.
48 minutes: Van Ewijk will get ahead to whip in a cross, however Patterson is ready to declare it.
Do you know? These two sides have a long-standing beef, going again to the 70s when Sunderland have been relegated at Cov’s expense.
Second half
We’re again below method. Coventry want a objective, or Sunderland can be off to Wembley.
“Are both of those groups worse than Manchester United?” asks Terry Nash. Perhaps the query must be: might these groups beat United at their worst? The reply is sure.
Half time: Sunderland 0-0 Coventry (agg 2-1)
Coventry have cause to imagine, having carved out a few clear probabilities – however it’s Sunderland who nonetheless maintain the benefit, and so they look able to including to it. It’s very a lot up for grabs. Extra quickly.
47 minutes: Mason-Clark tangles with Roberts and will get penalised, a lot to the Coventry man’s bemusement.
45 minutes: There can be three added minutes.
44 minutes: One other Coventry nook is cleared away, however it’s labored again to Dasilva, whose cross is headed down by Rudoni … however it rises over the bar! The referee had signalled for a push, the truth is, so it wouldn’t have counted.
43 minutes: Sakamoto places in a cross which is cleared, and Sunderland threaten to interrupt away – however Sakamoto himself will get again to disclaim Isidor. He’s been in all places on this half.
41 minutes: We resume, and Bellingham wins the ball in midfield earlier than discovering Le Price, whose low cross is misdirected.
38 minutes: Likelihood! That is in all probability the very best likelihood for both facet. Mason-Clark heads throughout objective and Rudoni will get to the bouncing ball forward of Anthony Patterson, however prods his effort over the bar! The Sunderland keeper wants remedy after the gamers collide.
37 minutes: Coventry counter once more, Mason-Clark getting free down the left – however he tries to seek out Rudoni alongside him reasonably than cross, and Sunderland regroup.
36 minutes: Jobe Bellingham passes ahead to Dan Neil, who strides upfield however can’t discover the killer cross.
35 minutes: Finish-to-end motion right here, as first Mayenda surges into the realm however is denied by the retreating Thomas. On the different finish, Rudoni collects a cross and mishits his shot. Sakamoto is ready to get a boot on it, however can’t preserve his effort down.
33 minutes: Bobby Thomas is the fourth participant in Andy Madley’s e book already, and there’s a protracted approach to go.
32 minutes: The free kick causes some critical flutters within the house defence, with Patterson failing to attach as he tries to punch clear. Sakamoto’s intelligent cross again throughout objective nearly lands at Rudoni’s toes – however then Thomas fouls Roberts to kill the momentum.
31 minutes: Coventry are transferring ahead with extra objective now, and after Rudoni’s near-post cross is cleared, Patrick Roberts journeys Sheaf to concede a free kick and acquire a reserving.
30 minutes: Le Price is nearly capable of thread the needle and discover Mayenda, however Thomas pokes the ball away from hazard.
29 minutes: Grimes’ nook is headed half-clear by Hume, however the Sunderland defence spring out to encompass Sakamoto, who sends a hasty shot nicely vast.
27 minutes: Ballard concedes a free kick as Wright topples over. Coventry take it rapidly, in search of to free Mason-Clark down the left. He wins a throw-in, from which Ballard has to awkwardly clear on the close to publish for a nook …
26 minutes: Enzo Le Price ends a spell of Coventry possession with a well-timed problem; I can nearly see the MoTD spotlight reel exhibiting he “doesn’t simply rating objectives” subsequent season already.
23 minutes: Ben Sheaf goes within the e book for a hefty midfield problem, and complains at size in regards to the determination.
22 minutes: It’s Wilson on Wilson as Isidor briefly collides with the Coventry keeper, then rolls round as if he’s been shot. All a bit tedious, and the referee isn’t shopping for it.
21 minutes: Mayenda slaloms previous his marker and fires in a shot from a slender angle that Ben Wilson has to parry away. The ball is lofted in the direction of Isidor on the again publish, however he can’t steer a difficult header on the right track.
20 minutes: Coventry are bossing possession however it’s all in entrance of the Sunderland defence – and now Sakamoto will get penalised for a foul throw. The indignity!
18 minutes: Coventry win a nook, Ballard clearing behind below strain from Rudoni. Dan Neil clears the primary supply away however it finally ends up with Rudoni, who’s shepherded away from objective by Cirkin.
16 minutes: Mason-Clark, who is working on the left with Haji Wright within the center, cuts inside and fires a shot that’s nicely struck, however straight at Patterson.
14 minutes: An formidable lengthy diagonal ball from Coventry is headed again to the keeper by Hume.
12 minutes: Sunderland are simply faster to the free balls, the 50-50s, and so forth thus far. Sakamoto and Sheaf do nicely to interrupt up an assault right here, although.
11 minutes: Wilson Isidor pounces on a free ball and hurls himself over as Kitching steps throughout him. He’s booked for a dive, which appears an excellent name at first viewing.
10 minutes: Ephron Mason-Clark, who replaces Thomas-Asante in the one Coventry change, will get into house on the left facet of the realm, however can’t discover a colleague in cyan and the ball is cleared.
8 minutes: Coventry haven’t been capable of make a dent in Sunderland’s well-drilled again line but. However it’s early.
“Is it simply me or does Regis Le Bris seem like he might be former Sunderland supervisor Chris Coleman’s stressed-out cousin?” asks Peter Oh. I can see the resemblance; Coleman managed each these golf equipment, and was fairly confused for many of these tenures.
6 minutes: Van Ewijk slips within the field, permitting Enzo Le Price to chest down and shoot – however his effort flies over the bar.
5 minutes: Marginal positive aspects dept: it appears Sunderland have moved their promoting boards to stymie Coventry’s lengthy throw weaponry – and the guests additionally discovered the heating turned up of their dressing room earlier.
3 minutes: Ben Sheaf tries to select his method by the Sunderland midfield however is dispossessed. Each interception is being greeted with big cheers.
2 minutes: Coventry, of their conventional sky blue, are caught offside on their first foray upfield. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see if the hosts stick with their first-leg recreation plan and sit again early on right here.
Kick off
The house followers have unfurled a large, black cat tifo emblazoned with the phrases “Until The Finish”. I’m positive they’d reasonably get it completed in 90 minutes.
{Photograph}: Owen Humphreys/PA
In playoff historical past, 10 groups of 64 who misplaced the primary leg at house have been capable of flip it round … together with Frank Lampard’s Derby County in 2019.
Regis Le Bris: “We count on a troublesome recreation, we’re midway there … the gang can be behind us, they can assist by troublesome moments.”
Frank Lampard: “We’ll play the sport in entrance of us … we all know how the primary leg went, it’s contemporary in our thoughts. We need to play how we’ve been taking part in within the second half of the season.”
Right here’s how Sheffield United booked their place at Wembley:
Crew information
Sunderland (4-4-2): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Le Price; Mayenda, Isidor.
Subs: Moore, Browne, Rigg, Mundle, Abdul Samed, Mepham, Hjelde, Watson, Jones.
Coventry (4-2-3-1): Wilson; van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Grimes, Sheaf; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright; Mason-Clark.
Subs: Collins, Binks, Allen, Simms, Paterson, Bidwell, Thomas-Asante,
Latibeaudiere, Eccles.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Preamble
Coventry Metropolis haven’t performed within the Premier League since 2001; Sunderland fell out of the highest flight in 2017 and are but to return. Each golf equipment have, to completely different levels, been by troubled instances since, however now the golden ticket is in attain once more.
Chris Wilder and his Sheffield United facet are the final-level boss ready at Wembley’s gates, however just one staff will get to take them on. Sunderland have a transparent edge after successful 2-1 on the CBS Area final week, however the playoffs are not often so simple.
Will Frank Lampard proceed his spectacular run, taking Coventry from relegation fears to the playoff closing? Or will Régis Le Bris again up his claims that Sunderland’s beach-worthy late league type would enhance when it counted?
There’s just one approach to discover out. Be a part of me for kick-off at 8pm BST, with staff information to return.
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