Frank Lampard reacts to Coventry City drawing Sunderland in play-offs semi-finals, he expects their ‘best’

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Coventry City beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on the Championship final day to book a play-off semi-final spot against Sunderland.

The 2024/25 Championship final day was a fitting conclusion to a dramatic campaign.

Leeds United won the second tier title, reaching 100 points, following their 2-1 win at relegated Plymouth Argyle as Luton Town suffered relegation following their 5-3 defeat at West Brom.

The Championship play-offs opponents were also decided on Saturday, with Sheffield United set to take on Bristol City, with Sunderland and Coventry City also set to draw swords in the season-defining fixtures.

After his side’s 2-0 win against Middlesbrough, Coventry boss Frank Lampard commented on the upcoming task at hand against Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats.

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Frank Lampard reacts to Coventry City drawing Sunderland in play-offs

Sunderland’s final day 1-0 defeat to managerless QPR was their fifth defeat on the spin, with Le Bris’ side entering the play-offs in worrying end-of-season form.

Lampard and Le Bris drew swords back in March, before the international break, in which the Sky Blues hammered the visiting Black Cats 3-0 thanks to a Haji Wright hat-trick.

Sunderland will have wanted Boro to beat Coventry on Saturday, given the Black Cats’ barren historical record against the Sky Blues, compounded by that drumming less than two months ago.

After second tier fate saw Coventry draw the Black Cats in the Championship play-offs, the Sky Blues boss admitted he is expecting “the best version” of Sunderland.

Lampard told Sky Sports: “We have to expect the best version of Sunderland, who for the first half and more of the season were really strong, that’s why they’re there.

“Maybe, the idea of a bit of cruise control because getting there is not easy to manage, now we go into a different environment.

“Now, I’d expect the best version of them. It’s nice to give us an extra days rest for the game and we know it’s going to be really tough over both games.

“We need to reboot, rest up and go again.”

Lampard and his Coventry squad will be hoping to extend the club’s impressive head-to-head record against Sunderland and book a Wembley final place against either Sheffield United or Bristol City.

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How Championship final day went for the four play-offs sides

Aside from Coventry’s victory and Sunderland’s defeat, third-placed Sheffield United were in action against top-six hopefuls Blackburn Rovers.

Chris Wilder’s side went one-nil down on 50 minutes thanks to a Yuki Ohashi strike, before defender Anel Ahmedhodzic equalised to secure the stalemate.

Despite their 2-2 draw at Preston, Bristol City snook into sixth-place ahead of Rovers, with Liam Manning’s side now gearing up to face the Blades.

Play-off semi-final fixtures:

• 8th May, 8pm: Bristol City vs Sheffield United
• 9th May, 8pm: Coventry City vs Sunderland
• 12th May, 8pm: Sheffield United vs Bristol City
• 13th May, 8pm: Sunderland vs Coventry City