Coventry City look poised to take control of their Championship playoff semi-final when they host Sunderland at the CBS Arena on Friday night, with recent form and home dominance firmly in their favour.
The Sky Blues have leaned heavily on their performances at home this season, collecting 14 of their 20 league wins at the CBS Arena. Their strong home record continued with a crucial 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough last weekend, sealing their playoff spot in dramatic fashion.
In stark contrast, Sunderland enter the playoffs in disarray. The Black Cats have lost their last five Championship matches, ending the regular season in a slump that has raised serious concerns over their readiness for knockout football.
Sunderland had surged to the top of the table during the November international break, accumulating 31 points from their opening 15 games. But their campaign unraveled in the months that followed, with consistency deserting them just when it mattered most.
Head coach Regis Le Bris attempted to rotate his squad to manage player fatigue, but the strategy backfired. Performance levels dipped, and the team’s confidence waned—reflected in their 3-0 defeat away to Coventry in mid-March.
Coventry, under Frank Lampard since late November, have shown real grit to earn their playoff berth. Though they’ve struggled on the road—dropping points in recent losses to Plymouth and Luton—their home form has been formidable, with ten wins from their last 12 league matches in front of their fans.
Lampard has been boosted by the return to full fitness of key defenders Milan van Ewijk and Bobby Thomas, both of whom were instrumental in last weekend’s win over Boro. Their presence adds stability to a Coventry side that knows it must build a first-leg lead before the return leg at the Stadium of Light next Tuesday.
While Sunderland may be hoping for a turnaround with one standout performance, recent results suggest that an uphill battle lies ahead.
Key Stat: Sunderland have lost their last five Championship matches.
