Regis Le Bris hints at how Sunderland will start against Coventry City, ‘form’ has been questioned

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Sunderland are looking to put a dismal end to the 2024/25 season behind them on Friday evening as they face up to Coventry City at the CBS Arena.

After securing their place in the play-offs at the start of April, the Black Cats have been in a terrible run of form and supporters will be hoping to see great improvements from their team in the first leg against Frank Lampard’s side.

Sunderland’s record against Coventry is a concern, and Regis Le Bris has his work cut out to fire his players up ahead of Friday’s Championship play-off game, with the Sky Blues carrying plenty of momentum into the clash following their final day 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Questions have to be asked of the Black Cats’ players and goals need to be found immediately if they are to have any success in the West Midlands and their French manager has a tough decision to make as to who to start up front.

Regis Le Bris pinpoints what Sunderland need going forward on Friday

Sunderland have struggled in the Championship play-offs previously, and their semi-final exit in 2023 will be well remembered by both fans and players who were at the club at the time.

However, throughout the first half of this season, the team was showing an attacking intent that others were finding tough to match and there is an opportunity for that to be shown once again if the correct decisions are made with the starting line up.

Nevertheless, Le Bris has kept rather coy about who he will choose to lead the line against Coventry for Sunderland. “We’ll see who starts,” he started (via: Sunderland Echo).

“First of all, we have two good strikers and this is good news. Two young strikers, one very young and one still young. They are two different strikers and it depends on the balance of the team – we always need threats in behind.

“Sometimes if we play with Pat [Patrick Roberts] and Enzo [Le Fee] out wide we need a striker whose style is to run in behind to manage and stretch the lines.”

Le Bris continued: “I think Wilson’s [Isidor] style fits these circumstances, Eli [Mayenda] can do this but he’s a little different, he likes ball into feet and he can dribble. He’s not exactly the same profile. It’s a question of balance but also of form.

“Both can run but at one time might be a little tired. Or one opponent might be strong against one style, like for example I think QPR were a very good style against Enzo. So it’s balance and a feeling from the training sessions, but we need someone to stretch the lines.”

Wilson Isidor needs to get back to his best in the Championship play-offs

After such a bright start to the season for Wilson Isidor, the goals have dried up and the striker has not found the back of the net since he scored against Leeds United back in February.

Out of the sides in the Championship play-offs, Sunderland’s form is the worst and this will be alarming to Le Bris and his lack of threat in the final third has to be fixed otherwise Coventry will easily find a way to take a result in both games.

The Black Cats have lost their fear factor and with the team one of the youngest in the division, they are perhaps lacking the leaders that others have at this point in time.

This is where quality has to shine through, and Le Bris must not be afraid to be cut-throat with the decisions that he takes in the next 24 hours as his side prepare for the trip to the CBS Arena.