Enzo Le Fee fires ‘we can show them’ warning to Bristol City ahead of potential play-off clash vs Sunderland

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Sunderland were beaten by Bristol City on Good Friday which saw Enzo Le Fee share an adamant warning to Liam Manning’s side ahead of a potential play-off clash.

Bristol City beat Sunderland 2-1 on Good Friday in a typically-dramatic Championship top-six affair.

Liam Manning’s side headed into the clash desperate for points to secure an illustrious play-off place, which the Black Cats made certain with five games to spare in their regular season.

An early red card for in-form Trai Hume saw Regis Le Bris’ side down to ten men with only six minutes on the clock, after the in-form full-back tripped Nahki Wells who broke free in behind.

Sunderland ace Eliezer Mayenda broke the deadlock with an impressive solo goal, before Robins duo Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie smashed home second-half goals to complete the comeback and send them six points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.

After the game, Sunderland ace Enzo Le Fee had some choice words for the Robins ahead of a potential play-off double-header.

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Enzo Le Fee fires warning to Bristol City after Sunderland’s defeat

Hume’s “harsh” early red card defined the fate of the afternoon and Sunderland supporters were fuming at Oliver Langford’s decision.

It meant Sunderland were intent on sitting back and hunting to hit Bristol City on transition, which led to Mayenda’s impressive breakaway and low finish past Max O’Leary.

Despite valiant defensive displays, Le Bris’ side failed to stem the tide and the Robins completed the comeback with equally quality finishes from Dickie and McCrorie.

Manning’s side dominated the affair after the dismissal, evidenced by their 77% possession and 27 shots lodged against their fellow promotion hopefuls.

Roma loanee Le Fee made his first Sunderland start in several weeks with his recent return from the sidelines, and failed impose his creative flair on the game with the hosts’ man advantage.

If the Championship table stood still, the two sides would face each other once again, this time in the play-off semi-finals. After the Black Cats’ defeat, the Frenchman fired a stern warning to Bristol City, with the potential for a season-defining reverse fixture next month.

Le Fee told SAFC.com: “Yes. Ten against 11 is tough. We worked hard, so hopefully we’re going to play against them during the play-offs. Like that, we can show them how we can play football, 11 against 11. Hopefully, we play against them.”

The Roma loanee added: “The coach (Le Bris) is changing a lot of players as he is managing the team. We also have to keep the structure because we have to know what to do for the play-off games. We are doing that.”

Sunderland are losing momentum at the most precarious moment ahead of the play-offs, with teams adjacent to them in the table fighting for points, as the Black Cats’ season stalls.

Le Fee also admitted what the “most important” element for Le Bris’ side is now heading into the Stadium of Light clash against Blackburn Rovers during Easter Monday’s round of fixtures.

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Enzo Le Fee reveals what is ‘most important’ for Sunderland ahead of Blackburn clash

Following the Frenchman’s timely return to action, following a muscular injury that has hindered his short stint at Sunderland, Le Fee said: “I felt good. Strong with a lot of energy,

“We have to be strong to play the play-offs but the most important thing is that we keep going.”

Le Fee believes the Black Cats simply need to ‘keep going’, a fair assessment given the remaining league fixtures are inconsequential to their play-off fate. However, the most important thing for the Sunderland faithful is not to see the season fizzle out, as other play-off hopefuls around them gather steam.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	43	26	13	4	83	29	54	91
2	BurnleyBurnley	43	25	16	2	59	14	45	91
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	43	27	7	9	59	33	26	86
4	SunderlandSunderland	43	21	13	9	58	40	18	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	43	17	16	10	56	46	10	67
6	CoventryCoventry	43	19	9	15	61	54	7	66
7	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	43	18	9	16	63	52	11	63

Sunderland’s upcoming opponents Blackburn hammered Millwall 4-1 on Friday, Middlesbrough beat Plymouth in injury-time, Coventry beat top-six rivals West Brom 2-0 and third-place Sheffield United beat relegation-threatened Cardiff City by the same scoreline.

A punctual round of victories for Sunderland’s league neighbours, as the Black Cats limped to defeat, does not bode well for their play-off aspirations.