We draw fri and win at their place,If we can take a minimum of a two goal lead to the SOL it would be great, just think they will be difficult to beat this time around.
I wouldn’t believe the “ we’ve been resting” line its not like they’ve been putting the reserves out every week, back fours played every game, just think they’ve been poor, you don’t have a 3 month rest, and just turn up to a play off semi final and it all just falls into place again, there’s a reason they didn’t want usDon’t be fooled by Scumberland recent form, they’ve been sitting back as they knew they’d qualified, rested their players and used the last few games as a training session.
could be very very close and hard to call
I think the SBA will make a massive impact on the atmosphere at the SoL.Playing the team who are bottom of the form table in the entire League over two legs in the Play-Offs is a bit of a freak and will probably never happen again tbh - It isn't disrespectful to suggest it is a massive opportunity, but that lot still have dangerous players and will obviously raise their level as much as they can
Ideally would like to be taking a lead up there, we have never stamped authority in any of our home legs in any of our play-off campaigns so now would be a good time to start as we are gonna be heading into a huge crowd with our own fans tucked away in the top corner not being able to make much of an impact on the atmosphere next week
Let's not be complacent, I thought Middlesbrough showed us tremendous disrespect in 2023, they thought all they had to do was turn up and they would win and were left embarrassed, let's not do the same here
I think it almost certainly will be very close.Don’t be fooled by Scumberland recent form, they’ve been sitting back as they knew they’d qualified, rested their players and used the last few games as a training session.
could be very very close and hard to call
I suspect because we’ve been in very poor form on the road and they have home advantage second leg.I think it almost certainly will be very close.
You can't really ask for much more in a semi-final than to play a team bottom of the form table though.
Provided Lampard doesn't allow complacency (which he obviously won't) we have a great chance.
I still don't understand how we are underdogs with the bookies to win the tie.
Personally, if I was Sunderland I would want the Stadium of Light leg first, with the form they have been in I would want to get a result at home then come down here and try to frustrate usI suspect because we’ve been in very poor form on the road and they have home advantage second leg.
That’s meltdown territoryI think we should all be mindful that if we draw or lose Friday that isn’t the end either.
Could easily turn it round there. No head-losses allowed.
Maybe. I'm not sure if it is an advantage though. They've scored 2 home goals in their last 5 matches. If we take any lead there they will be under significant pressure and their supporters are notoriously fickle. With our home record we have to have belief that we have a good chance of winning the first leg.I suspect because we’ve been in very poor form on the road and they have home advantage second leg.
LatiReading between the lines of Lampards interview I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas doesn't start both legs.
If so which one does he drop out for?
They are a team whose style works very well for us, as poor as they might have looked in March, they played into our hands.Maybe. I'm not sure if it is an advantage though. They've scored 2 home goals in their last 5 matches. If we take any lead there they will be under significant pressure and their supporters are notoriously fickle. With our home record we have to have belief that we have a good chance of winning the first leg.
Get the sentiment and agree to an extent, but disagree ‘form stands for nothing’.
The players are all humans, whether they needed the points or not, losing their last 5 on the bounce isn’t going to breed a team full of confidence but naturally will an element of doubt. As well as negativity, frustrations with team mates etc.
Difficult to just switch back to a positive mindset and translate that into performance.
I'm hoping their manager is one who sticks by his ethos and the way he plays, but I really fear that with their poor form they will just sit in and frustrate for the first leg and hope to beat us at theirs. Even a small amount of research by them will tell them that we're terrible at beating a low block,They are a team whose style works very well for us, as poor as they might have looked in March, they played into our hands.
I think we should all be mindful that if we draw or lose Friday that isn’t the end either.
Could easily turn it round there. No head-losses allowed.
Difficult if their players are used to playing differently most of the time though.I'm hoping their manager is one who sticks by his ethos and the way he plays, but I really fear that with their poor form they will just sit in and frustrate for the first leg and hope to beat us at theirs. Even a small amount of research by them will tell them that we're terrible at beating a low block,
Yup, 10pm on Friday is only half time.I think we should all be mindful that if we draw or lose Friday that isn’t the end either.
Could easily turn it round there. No head-losses allowed.
I feel we need an early goal and need to put Sunderland on the backfoot right away. I'd like BTA to start the match and terrorise their backline from the start. Simms has not impressed me at all lately.Can't see Frank changing the starting X1. BTA will be a fantastic option off the bench, but he hasn't started a game for a long time. Simms is not firing but he'll tire out their CB's and then we can introduce BTA. Would be tempted by Dasilva for Bidwell, as Jay was fantastic against WBA. Bidwell had a good game on Saturday though, so probably deserves to keep the shirt.
you know simms has been saving it for the play offs, these will be his 3 best games of the seasonI feel we need an early goal and need to put Sunderland on the backfoot right away. I'd like BTA to start the match and terrorise their backline from the start. Simms has not impressed me at all lately.
If that were to happen, our away form is poor and they will have the backing of a raucous 40k+ home crowd. I hope we're ahead in the first leg even if by a single goal. Then if we can keep them at bay in the second leg for 20-30 mins, their crowd will get anxious and start turning against their own team which could work in our favour.I think we should all be mindful that if we draw or lose Friday that isn’t the end either.
Could easily turn it round there. No head-losses allowed.
Sunderland manager just done his press conference and states Romain Mundle will miss the first leg as still injured. Good news as dangerous player
You mean Friday isn't a must-win?I think we should all be mindful that if we draw or lose Friday that isn’t the end either.
Could easily turn it round there. No head-losses allowed.
I'd be interested to see those links mind. I've just been looking around at articles relating to the game and I can't find one that predicts a Sunderland win - not one. Coventry are quite rightly the overwhelming favourites to win the round and progress to Wembley.I see the media wankfest for Sunderland has kicked off big time, most msn has plucky Sunderland favourites to get past us and one I saw was ‘Coventry managed to sneak into 5 th place’
I suppose when we knock them out, it’ll all transfer onto Sheffield Utd and we’ll still be lucky Frank Lampard’s Coventry City!
Mundle is injured and wont be playing in the first leg. no news about whether he plays in the second leg.He's been a bit forthcoming with his info there hasn't he? Unless it's a buff
It hasn't been announced, but there are people on the RTG message board who keep tabs on this and they reckon about 35k so far - Attendance Thread - Coventry City (Play-Off 2nd Leg) (look at post number 3)How many home tickets have Sunderland sold out of interest?
I'd like too see those posts as well mind.Keep seeing Sunderland fans saying how we only beat them at home because they didn't bother turning up, but ignoring the fact we drew away straight after sacking our manager, during the period of poor form, and with Collins gifting them their second goal.
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