Match Thread Coventry v Sunderland Championship Playoff 1st Leg Friday 9th May (24 Viewers)

[Skyblueabo1111]

Simms wouldn’t have done any better than BTA - can’t believe people are moaning about that
[/QUOTser

Disappointing for sure but when you shoot yourself in the foot you have to accept it, move on and recover.
The mistake from MVE was uncharacteristic and one he will recover quickly from, becuase he is a very god player.
But Sunderland played well defensively, and never looked like doing anything bar a mistake from us.
Credit to Sunderland for getting away with it though, and having the good fortune of our own mistakes.

But while we bossed possesion we did little with it. Their two banks of 4 made life difficult and needed someone to open up their defensive lines, and play through them. Torp is a miss in this area. For us Sheaf was just not contributing enough, and on Tuesday I would make a change there. Asante proved to be a bad decision against a strong centre back, and Simms would have given him more concern and added ariel power on crosses. Tuesday we have to look for goals and EMC must start with Wright and Simms down the middle. A busy Allen can give Sako and Rudoni time to create. Grimes is excellent. I'm just not sure about Kitching. Would Latibeaudiere be the energy to clean up and have pace alongside Thomas and give Grimes more opportunity to stamp out their midfield?

Not over by a long shot. We got it wrong, and we have a chance to put it right. I really don't think Sunderland are tough oposition if we bring our A game.

It was obvious Assante would struggle. Terrible decision from Lampard

 

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[Skyblueabo1111]

Simms wouldn’t have done any better than BTA - can’t believe people are moaning about that

He would have done a lot better and won some headers, terrible decision by Lampard

 

[Tommo1993]

Is it a must win?

Depends on results elsewhere!

 

[Kingokings204]

The defeatism, it's 1-0 at half time

I think it’s the manner that’s got people. A last minute give away goal is a killer. At 1-1 it’s game on but throwing it away it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Sunderland came for a draw but we gave them a win.

Too tough from here I think .

 

[pusbccfc]

The defeatism, it's 1-0 at half time

Maybe.

Could be overly positive like you in recent weeks predicting we'll do the likes of Plymouth.

 

[pusbccfc]

I think it’s the manner that’s got people. A last minute give away goal is a killer. At 1-1 it’s game on but throwing it away it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Sunderland came for a draw but we gave them a win.

Too tough from here I think .

Exactly and the tide has turned. We've always done well up there but it's different now.

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Simms is shite

Team were shite, Simms wasn't playing

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

I think Lampard will ditch Simms he’s been terrible

He didn't play

 

[Mcbean]

1-0 down up there definitely doable - Simms back in - subs change earlier - it’s going to happen Super Frank

as far as I am concerned the more public narrative that Sunderland are cruising the better and our brilliant set of fighters will come good

 

[David O'Day]

Maybe.

Could be overly positive like you in recent weeks predicting we'll do the likes of Plymouth.

Oh no, I like to think my team can win games! Bad form.

We can go through the list of things you get wrong but I have a coach to Sunderland to catch on Tuesday so I'm not sure we have time to fit them all in.

 

[David O'Day]

Exactly and the tide has turned. We've always done well up there but it's different now.

We lost one game, how is that "turning the tide"?

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

It’s easy to sit here post match and critique. There were lots of good performances on that pitch, lacking a little creative juices in the final 3rd. I genuinely think we will do the job on the away tie

We were awful

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Don't get the criticism of Thomas-Asante. He wasn't given the ball enough, despite making some excellent runs. He was a pest for them and they got lucky with the way the ball dropped at times. He set up a great chance for Sheaf. He did more than Simms has managed recently and gave far more to the cause than Wright who didn't challenge for anything and might aa well not be on the pitch.

He was awful

 

[David O'Day]

We were awful

We simply weren't awful.

We were pretty decent value for a draw until a brain fart from a defender.

 

[Grendel]

He didn't play

Er I know?

 

[pusbccfc]

We lost one game, how is that "turning the tide"?

It's not about us, it's about Sunderland blowing away all those comments from this week about how they never beat us, haven't won in 5, haven't scored in forever. Usually Sunderland fans are booing the players off but they were lauding them last night.

 

[pusbccfc]

Oh no, I like to think my team can win games! Bad form.

We can go through the list of things you get wrong but I have a coach to Sunderland to catch on Tuesday so I'm not sure we have time to fit them all in.

Are you going to start getting personal again whenever anyone says anything you disagree with?

 

[SBT]

They get the first goal and it’s sorted. Can’t really imagine us scoring two, so even if they score at anytime it’ll be done.

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.

From the fanbase that bought you “team full of pussies” comes the hot new forum trend: Rob Roy-posting!

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

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

He and Vik had some fantastic individual moments that dragged us through games. The tactical framework was laid by Robins. If we made as many basic defensive errors in that season as we have this year, we’d have been a midtable team. If you don’t concede a goal over 2 legs, in most cases, you’re going to win the tie.

Last night, if MVE puts in a proper cross and doesn’t give a suicidal back pass, we almost definitely do not lose the game last night. Likewise, Wilson demonstrated why Lampard has persisted with Collins because Dovin (maybe even Collins too) comfortably makes that save.

 

[clint van damme]

From the fanbase that bought you “team full of pussies” comes the hot new forum trend: Rob Roy-posting!

We haven't won away since March 1st.
It's not unreasonable to think we'll struggle.

I hope we go against recent form and do the job, just like Sunderland last night.

But it wasn't unreasonable for their supporters to be pessimistic and its not unreasonable for us to be.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

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.

At this stage of the season, form does go out the window. Both of Sunderland’s goal scorers last night hadn’t scored in months and had lost 6 of the last 7 games with barely any goals scored.

On another night, the ball perhaps falls to us more kindly in 2-3 positions and we score a couple of goals, Lampard nailed that assessment post-match. He isn’t panicked and nor should he be.

 

[itsabuzzard]

@itsabuzzard your time has come!

47 games later and we've finally arrived. Step up Frank and the boys; make Tuesday night a night to remember.

 

[Lionelr]

We were awful

Disagree, we controlled the game start to finish. Very similar performance wise to our 3-0 win last time at the CBS, we just lacked the creative aspects. We simply struggled to get passed their low block (something we have struggled with all season, Plymouth, hull etc). Sunderland had 2 chances and took them, they played dreadful football

 

[Great_Expectations]

I think we controlled the game and didn’t really look under pressure, however there’s a difference between controlling the game and doing something with that control.

Game plan was ponderous and slow, which then lead to passing to the FB/winger who was isolated/outnumbered. And repeat.

Did we look threatening ourselves? Nah, we looked toothless.

 

[Grendel]

I think we controlled the game and didn’t really look under pressure, however there’s a difference between controlling the game and doing something with that control.

Game plan was ponderous and slow, which then lead to passing to the FB/winger who was isolated/outnumbered. And repeat.

Did we look threatening ourselves? Nah, we looked toothless.

If we had drawn the game it would have been fine

Wilson fucked up and there was an uncharacteristically bad error by MVE - we have masked the fact we have no decent central striker but last night showed we needed one. I actually thought we put loads of crosses in their box

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

So glad some of the people on here don’t play for us, some right bottle jobs. There’s 90 minutes of football left and we have to score a couple of goals against a team whose midfield this evening looked like ghosts. Chill!

Ghosts that won 2.1

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

If we had drawn the game it would have been fine

Wilson fucked up and there was an uncharacteristically bad error by MVE - we have masked the fact we have no decent central striker but last night showed we needed one. I actually thought we put loads of crosses in their box

Unfortunately, those dodgy passes from MVE are not as uncharacteristic as you’d think.

There have been several occasions where he does these passes to no one and it invites pressure. Whilst it’s only lead to 2 goals in recent memory (Plymouth and last night), it’s something that needs to be worked on in the training ground. In the Prem, if he ever gets there, it’ll be punished more ruthlessly.

Collins would’ve been rightly hammered and a new thread started if he conceded the first goal last night. No doubt someone would’ve tried to say he was at fault for the second because Wilson was in no man’s land for that too.

 

[Paxman II]

On reflection this morning, I think if we bring our A game on Tuesday and go at them we will equalise, then the crowd will be on their backs, and this will be the moment for Wright and Rudoni to step in and win it.

Sunderland 0 - 2 Coventry City

 

[SKYBLUES90]

Frustrating result but on the flip side Sunderland can’t deploy the same game plan they did last night at their place which I think will suit us more.

Last few years we’ve turned them over at the SOL, comfortably on a number of occasions. Weirdly I think it might work in our favour them winning, almost gives them a false confidence. More open game without them putting 10 men behind the ball and slowing the game down as much as possible will see us a better team.

First goal is key, we get it and we blow them out the water…I hope

 

[SKYBLUES90]

Frustrating result but on the flip side Sunderland can’t deploy the same game plan they did last night at their place which I think will suit us more.

Last few years we’ve turned them over at the SOL, comfortably on a number of occasions. Weirdly I think it might work in our favour them winning, almost gives them a false confidence. More open game without them putting 10 men behind the ball and slowing the game down as much as possible will see us a better team.

First goal is key, we get it and we blow them out the water…I hope

Also it’s funnier doing it this way as I’m sure a lot of their fans booked travel/accommodation down to London on the back of last nights results….

 

[clint van damme]

Frustrating result but on the flip side Sunderland can’t deploy the same game plan they did last night at their place which I think will suit us more.

why can't they?

 

[Alkhen]

Weird game to process. Couldn't get my head around how confident a lot of our fans were pre match. Sunderland have had 4 locked up for months they are no slouches.

They came with a game plan and defended well. I thought we controlled the match but am really disappointed with our end product. Wright is bang out of form and feel that BTA is better off the bench. Just such a shame they are all so off form at this crucial time.

Seen some harsh reviews for MvE he was having a good game until his error. The assist was good. The backpass was awful so annoying. Was bang on the corner flag and you could see Wilson panic in real time. Also some people blaming him but he had to do something, didn't work out but if he had stayed on his line and they had scored he'd have been ripped a new one. It was just a shite error from a normally reliable player.

Was really rough to take the Sunderland players celebrating directly Infront of me. Then when the Sunderland's started doing the EMC song it really twisted the knife.

Tough result to take but we are still in it. We need a reaction Tuesday. The forwards owe their team mates a performance.

 

[SBT]

Unfortunately, those dodgy passes from MVE are not as uncharacteristic as you’d think.

There have been several occasions where he does these passes to no one and it invites pressure. Whilst it’s only lead to 2 goals in recent memory (Plymouth and last night), it’s something that needs to be worked on in the training ground. In the Prem, if he ever gets there, it’ll be punished more ruthlessly.

Yeah I love MVE and think he’s been excellent this season, but those scatterbrained moments are why he’s currently playing for us and not a team in a top league.

 

[OldBedrocker]

Wright needs to be dropped. Why didn’t he hit that cross in the second half first time, trying to control it in the 6 yard box

Or back heel the one 4 yards out

 

[WONDERLAMPS]

why can't they?

I imagine they will try the exact same thing but the chances of it working again feel low - can't realistically sit in for 180 minutes and get as lucky as they did yesterday for the majority.