Match Thread Coventry v Sunderland Championship Playoff 1st Leg Friday 9th May (45 Viewers)

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'm feeling nervous, I think we will do them but we are so poor away from home it feels like we need to win 2 or 3 nil in this leg.

It could be worse, we could be Sunderland who’ve been poor home and away.

In all seriousness, conventional form is somewhat out of the window now. Looking at how the game has played out so far, these don’t look like a team who’ve finished 4th.

 

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[Sick Boy]

“A joy half of football if you’re a neutral” - Lorna Bailey.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Quarter of the way through and nothing has happened. A home quarter too.

Sunderland have really learned from the 3-0 and are just going to frustrate and take it to the SoL.

Dropping Simms seems like a mistake against a low block as you need some physical presence to work defenders.

I wonder how many minutes EMC has in him and Wright up front? Haji not at the races either though…

 

[SIR ERNIE]

Given the goal threat we produced in the first half on Saturday, it was a strange decision to change the attacking line up.

 

[HungarySkyBlue]

Sunderland here for the draw, we can't really break down a low block as it's been all season, hopefully we can get 2 bits of luck get us 2 goals and force them out of their cocoon.

 

[Shannerz]

It wasn’t that bad!

Exactly, their game-plan is to sit in and try and hit us on the break; they're doing it well, but we're not playing badly.

So far, it's been quite a typical play-off first leg.

 

[HungarySkyBlue]

Quarter of the way through and nothing has happened. A home quarter too.

Sunderland have really learned from the 3-0 and are just going to frustrate and take it to the SoL.

Dropping Simms seems like a mistake against a low block as you need some physical presence to work defenders.

I wonder how many minutes EMC has in him and Wright up front? Haji not at the races either though…

Simms and physical don't go in the same sentence.

 

[steve101]

Comfortable but need to step it up second half. We can move it quicker, particularly to Wright. Rudoni having to come wide to receive the ball but then little movement to make it useful.

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Rudoni was calling out for some quick passes into him at the edge of the box, but we haven't been crisp with our delivery.

 

[Evo1883]

Granted I haven't seen that but you've long been a critic of Simms . What's your solution ?

Asante is playing no worse than ellis v boro , infact I urge you to look it up yourself.
But the solution is to replace ellis in the summer , wright would be through the middle with a fully fit EMC anyway

 

[David O'Day]

We are the better team but we as said are pretty toothless so far

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[CovveeBreak]

We have really struggled against teams with a clear gameplan to not engage with us - so will be somewhat forgiving of the forwards for not finding an opening when it is so tight. Feels like we might get enough opportunities from set pieces to get a goal though.

But that's a very optimistic view. That optimism extends to a 1-0 and not a bigger scoreline which I think we need to take to SOL.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

We can’t have all this possession at home and do nothing with the ball in the final 3rd.

Mistake putting BTA in for Simms.

 

[Liquid Gold]

I don’t even think a goal changes this. 1-0 and Sunderland still sit back.

Lampard has to be earning his bread sorting this out now.

 

[Otis]

If this ends up 0-0, I still fancy our chances up there

No way Sunderland are going to be so defensive at home and that should give us some space.

We are doing okay, but it's a bit like a game of chess at the moment.

I wonder how fit EMC is. Would be a great option to come on, if he's sharp

 

[steve101]

Thomas-Asante has done okay. He looks lively and set up the best chance for Sheaf.

 

[jordan210]

Pretty similar half to yesterday if there had been it been a pen and the red.

 

[Diogenes]

Plenty of room to grow into this game yet - Rudoni will turn it on in the second half.

 

[DT-R]

My half time talk would be for Saka to stop pulling back for the cross and to run at Cirkin at every opportunity. I'd also like to know how many minutes EMC has in him? Wright not been on it. BTA not done much but then he's had to feed off long balls over the top that more often than not have gone too deep and straight to Patterson. Looked ok on the ball, but if I have to make any criticism would be it's a bit slow. Playing in front of their low block and quite slowly. Needs moving about a little bit quicker and these are there for the taking.

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[jordan210]

Asante not done bad as not been offered anything from wright.

 

[Evo1883]

We haven't even been that bad ffs people just had it in their heads we'd blow them away

 

[duffer]

Feels like we're in charge of the game, but without really making any clear cut chances.
Bit frustrating, I wish we'd break a bit faster - it sometimes feels like we're looking for the perfect goal rather than just going for it...

 

[curly_tom]

We've played well but can't break them down, they've seen that a defensive mindset can frustrate us. Saka playing really well. We need to get Rudoni on the ball more. 0-0 would be a shame

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Exactly, their game-plan is to sit in and try and hit us on the break; they're doing it well, but we're not playing badly.

So far, it's been quite a typical play-off first leg.

They’ve defended well, but haven’t offered anything going forward. Which is concerning given their more recent form in terms of shots on target, chances created and most importantly, goals.

They do not have the home record to necessarily be happy with a draw going into Tuesday.

 

[stupot07]

Decent half but haven't really created much. Feels like Rudoni is too deep at times.

Some good individual performances.

Sakamoto is a joy to watch, it's mad to think that some believe he doesn't get into our best eleven.

 

[jordan210]

Saka and MvE just need to keep running direct at them

 

[Liquid Gold]

We definitely need to move the ball quicker on the rare occasions they attack us. It’s one thing playing against two banks of 4 it’s another letting them get set there before we have a go.

 

[Jamesimus]

Dominant in possession and territory, without really creating enough clear cut chances. We look the better team, but need to have that final ball sorted.

 

[covmark]

We've played ok. They've come for a draw. Their fans will expect a lot more at their place, and we'll have a load more space. They're very average.

 

[Ashdown]

As someone said on here, Wright puts on a good show every 4 matches or so. Kick up the arse please Frank !

 

[Houchens Head]

Saka has done well in my opinion. He's making good runs, and getting back to defend when needed. Really like this lad!

 

[Warwickhunt]

No good bringing on EMC as we are not using the left much at all.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

I also think people are overlooking how difficult this sunderland set up is making it for us in general .

This isnt simply on BTA

It’s the same setup that Plymouth hit us with that we struggled with

 

[Otis]

It's all well and good saying the Sunderland plan is working, but clearly Sheaf should have scored. Twice!

One off those had gone in, then people would have said Thier plan wasn't working at all

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

It’s simple - if Jack can get into the game we win