Match Thread Coventry v Sunderland Championship Playoff 1st Leg Friday 9th May (37 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Both are possible, as was the case at Plymouth.
But Collins was becoming a common denominator in a lot of goals conceded.

Collins by most measures is the worst keeper in the league. I wouldn’t have kept either of them going into next season to be clear.

 

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[Cally Fedora]

Milan’s mistake was obvious but I’m not really blaming anyone for last night. They parked the bus and got very lucky. You can’t account for that. The tie is wide, wide open. In lots of ways the away tie will be easier for us. This is far from over

 

[clint van damme]

Collins cleaned out his own defence and created an open goal. Mostly that goal is on him.

The defence stood still arms raised to let a forward run through. Mostly that goal is on them.

Neither keeper is good enough, no agenda on my part.

Another point, and this is just my take on it, but I don't think anyone will have been happier to see Brad Collins dropped than Brad Collins
He looked broken at the end of the Luton game.

 

[larry_david]

Also, don’t want to take anything away from Sunderland who I think executed their game plan perfectly, knowing it exploited our weaknesses. They defended the box so well and the finishes from the lads up front were very good. That Mayenda is a huge talent. It’s a risky game plan that paid off.

I would be surprised if they are not more expansive on Tuesday, but if they are not, all we need is a lucky bounce in the penalty area and we’re back in the tie. Low block is not without its risks!

Let's be honest on another day we'd have bagged 3-4.

First 5 mins their keeper fumbled it and there was a scramble. Another day Wright has a tap in

Sheaf should have buried one, then has another he chops to his left foot and they block

There was a pull back in the first half that evaded everyone

Numerous richochets and blocks second half that fell to them every time

Whilst we didn't create clear chances, we put pressure in there that didn't drop our way

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Milan’s mistake was obvious but I’m not really blaming anyone for last night. They parked the bus and got very lucky. You can’t account for that. The tie is wide, wide open. In lots of ways the away tie will be easier for us. This is far from over

They will sit back even more so and just do the same again. We don’t know how to break it down.

 

[clint van damme]

Collins by most measures is the worst keeper in the league. I wouldn’t have kept either of them going into next season to be clear.

I doubt Wilsons going anywhere. But hopefully he doesn't start next season, even if that means a loan until Dovin is fit again.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Another point, and this is just my take on it, but I don't think anyone will have been happier to see Brad Collins dropped than Brad Collins
He looked broken at the end of the Luton game.

He looked broken before it, never mind after.

 

[David O'Day]

We're going to do them on Tuesday.

 

[larry_david]

For me,when a team is parking the bus like that you need to be braver. Sakamota had their guy on toast and yet we stopped giving him the ball once he'd been booked.

To break the line you need someone to beat a man, you beat a man and their lines broken and the options open up. The constant pass pass pass sideways just doesn't work.

Gotta say as well, sheaf looks a shadow of what he was last season. Watching him try and bundle his way through people is painful and it's sods law every edge of area chance landed to him.

Silly to say but if his chances yesterday fell to hamer we'd be in the final

 

[stupot07]

Let's be honest on another day we'd have bagged 3-4.

First 5 mins their keeper fumbled it and there was a scramble. Another day Wright has a tap in

Sheaf should have buried one, then has another he chops to his left foot and they block

There was a pull back in the first half that evaded everyone

Numerous richochets and blocks second half that fell to them every time

Whilst we didn't create clear chances, we put pressure in there that didn't drop our way

Would we? We didn't create many decent chances. Both teams xGs were similar.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Would we? We didn't create many decent chances. Both teams xGs were similar.

Keeping in mind the xG for a wide open goal would have been pretty high

 

[Cally Fedora]

They will sit back even more so and just do the same again. We don’t know how to break it down.

Them sitting back any more is not possible. They’d be in the stands. They’re at home, it won’t be the same game

 

[stupot07]

Keeping in mind the xG for a wide open goal would have been pretty high

That true. 0.47. Rudoni's header was 0.48.

 

[covcity4life]

Probably the best post on here all night.

Except for the fact the high line has taken us from 2pts off relegation to the playoffs

But yeah when we concede we need to talk about how it costs us dearly

 

[HJones23]

On a side note, that’s the 4th time (i think) seeing Bellingham live and I still do not see the hype around him at all. Your man in the Watford midfield looked twice the player he did at the CBS, but he will probably be playing champions league football next season

 

[coop]

Their plan worked albeit from a silly mistake but I think FL should of started Simms and Grimes was way to deep second half they just sat back why was he further back than the 2 centre backs.Cant see us beating them up there so next season we go again. If they do get to Wembley I hope Sheffield smash them I fucking hate Sunderland.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

That true. 0.47. Rudoni's header was 0.42.

The difference being we created Rudoni’s chance. We also created the open goal for them, yet presumably it counts as them creating a big chance themselves.

 

[coop]

On a side note, that’s the 4th time (i think) seeing Bellingham live and I still do not see the hype around him at all. Your man in the Watford midfield looked twice the player he did at the CBS, but he will probably be playing champions league football next season

Bellingham and Wright should play together both fucking useless.

 

[stupot07]

The difference being we created Rudoni’s chance. We also created the open goal for them, yet presumably it counts as them creating a big chance themselves.

Even if you scrap that 1.5 Vs 1 xG is hardly a battering in terms of chances created, where we deserved to be 3-4 up.

 

[Sick Boy]

I was at the other end so didn't realise how fucking bad it was.

Both Wilson and Collins are as bad as each other. They can both pull off some excellent saves but then get the basics wrong and / or have lapses in concentration.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Even if you scrap that 1.5 Vs 1 xG is hardly a battering in terms of chances created, where we deserved to be 3-4 up.

I agree. It does show we pissed the result away though.

 

[northstander]

Slept on it. Still very frustrated. Was blindingly obvious what their game plan was going to be and we just contrived to completely play into their hands by trying to force the issue, rushing passes and long-range shots - and inevitably making mistakes. Once again no plan B to combat the nauseating 'low block', then gift wrapped them two goals. Too many sub-par performances across the team, Haji didn't look interested, BTA ineffective, Sheaf poor. Not helped by equally sub-par refereeing, falling for their every trick in the book and being wildly inconsistent with his cards.

So frustrating and feels like a huge missed opportunity, but it is only half time one goal behind. We're going to need a plan B for Tuesday though otherwise it may well be a re-run of last night. Players need to step up.

Can we do it? Of course we can, but this is Cov and we never do things the easy way.

 

[Grendel]

This is what annoyed me tbh. It was like Sunderland had pulled off some tactical masterstroke but pretty much everyone could have worked out what they were going to do in advance, and even if they couldn't 10-15 minutes in it was obvious.

Why did we have no plan for this or do the fake injury and adapt?

Its a two leg tie.

It was similar to the home game against Boro 2 years ago

Teams don’t want to lose the first leg.

The reality is if we’d gone there level then it would still be a tie very even with the pressure on them

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Slept on it. Still very frustrated. Was blindingly obvious what their game plan was going to be and we just contrived to completely play into their hands by trying to force the issue, rushing passes and long-range shots - and inevitably making mistakes. Once again no plan B to combat the nauseating 'low block', then gift wrapped them two goals. Too many sub-par performances across the team, Haji didn't look interested, BTA ineffective, Sheaf poor. Not helped by equally sub-par refereeing, falling for their every trick in the book and being wildly inconsistent with his cards.

So frustrating and feels like a huge missed opportunity, but it is only half time one goal behind. We're going to need a plan B for Tuesday though otherwise it may well be a re-run of last night. Players need to step up.

Can we do it? Of course we can, but this is Cov and we never do things the easy way.

If we go up there repeating the same approach we’ll get nothing. I’d pick Simms for his height and just aim at putting in lots of high balls into the box.

 

[torchomatic]

I doubt Wilsons going anywhere. But hopefully he doesn't start next season, even if that means a loan until Dovin is fit again.

I see Freddie Woodman has been released. Might be worth a shout until Dovin is fit, although I think Woodman may be injured too.

 

[quinn1971]

Well that went well, how the fuck we lost that ? , not really surprising we’ve beeen making mistakes like that all season , not the first time Milan’s done that either, just Put it in the stand, think we really need an upgrade on our no 9

 

[Grendel]

I was at the other end so didn't realise how fucking bad it was.

Same for me - Super Ben

 

[shmmeee]

How can you look at our results and conclude we’ve relied on individual magic. It’s like saying Robins relied on Hamer and Vik to just ‘do something’ back in 22/23… No would hold Robins to that double standard. Big players win you matches at all levels.

Everyone said Gus had dragged us to the playoffs single handed.

 

[pusbccfc]

Proper deflated this morning. Feel like I did after the United game last year. Such a great build up. The ground, the pubs, the concourse were rocking. The atmosphere was incredible and generally happy with the performance of most players.

So proud of the club. It is remarkable after all the years of being the worst club in the country to support. We should all be proud.

The mistake is such a sucker punch and for me has completely turned the tide. The the records, dreadful Sunderland form and hoodoo's seem to have been broken.

 

[EalingSB]

Not sure what Wilson has done wrong really? Maybe a little too far out his goal for their second but we had the ball and Sunderland were no threat so teams expect a keeper to show nowadays. So his positioning for me was OK. It was the pass that fucked it. A better pass and Wilson is in the right position helping out his defence. That pass kills him off though

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The opening goal went straight through his hands when it should have been a routine save.

 

[TomRad85]

It's not over yet, just chill a bit. If MvE doesn't do what he did it's just a typical cagey first leg play off where a team comes for and gets a point. They were bringing defenders on at 1-1, they were delighted, I saw nothing in them yet again to suggest this is over.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Same for me - Super Ben

Super Brad would have fared no better. We had to pick one of two sub standard keepers

 

[TomRad85]

The opening goal went straight through his hands when it should have been a routine save.

He's crap. You can't really plan for what happened to Dovin unfortunately. Neither him or Collins will play a minute next season unless our new keeper gets an ACL too.

 

[clint van damme]

It's not over yet, just chill a bit. If MvE doesn't do what he did it's just a typical cagey first leg play off where a team comes for and gets a point. They were bringing defenders on at 1-1, they were delighted, I saw nothing in them yet again to suggest this is over.

What have you seen to suggest we can go up there and get a result?
Can just see them sitting in again and hoping to hit us on the break.
We get a goal it changes the tie again but not sure how we go about doing that.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

What have you seen to suggest we can go up there and get a result?
Can just see them sitting in again and hoping to hit us on the break.
We get a goal it changes the tie again but not sure how we go about doing that.

We need 2 goals to get them to change their plan. I don’t see us getting one playing the same way.