Sky Sports EFL pundit thinks one side will score a late winner in Coventry City vs Sunderland prediction

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The best time of the year for most EFL fans has arrived, as the second Championship play-off game of the week between Coventry City and Sunderland takes centre stage on Friday night.

In the regular season, Sunderland spent most of it cemented in fourth position, falling too far behind the division’s pace-setters.

That has seen complacency creep into the Black Cat’s game, with Regis Le Bris’ men entering the Championship play-offs in less than ideal form, having lost each of their last five matches.

Sunderland must now pick themselves up off the canvas for some knockout football, starting with a trip to Coventry City, who secured their place in the top six with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Frank Lampard’s men enter this contest not in the greatest form, either, after winning two of their previous five fixtures.

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Coventry City vs Sunderland score prediction

A clash in the play-offs is often decided by a moment of individual brilliance. In March, Haji Wright scored a hat-trick against Sunderland in a 3-0 win at the CBS Arena.

Coventry fans will be hoping for more of the same on Friday night, while Trai Hume has issued a rallying cry to Sunderland ahead of the match.

Le Bris’ side need to be much improved to halt the momentum of the Sky Blues and end their five-match losing run, but Sky Sports commentator Sam Parkin believes Coventry will continue their strong record against Sunderland and win 1-0 ahead of visiting a ‘fully lit cauldron’ in the second leg.

“Yeah, I very nearly completely agree with you. I just think maybe slightly cagier and maybe a late Coventry goal. But yeah, I think Coventry win the home leg is my thought process,” Parkin said on the Championship Check-In podcast, predicting a late winner for the hosts.

“And then go up to a fully lit cauldron for the second leg. And it could be overturned. Who knows? But I think right now, form, home form, the feeling that Coventry are going into this one, you have to back them to win that first leg to give them a chance to go into Wembley. One-nil.”

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Frank Lampard holds the advantage of Regis Le Bris

It’s easy to forget that this is Le Bris’ first full season in English football, and to have guided Sunderland to a fourth-place finish deserves massive respect.

Of course, the Black Cats haven’t been good enough in recent weeks following five defeats on the bounce, but they can make amends by prevailing in the play-offs.

Up against Coventry, that looks like a difficult task, especially because Lampard has play-off experience from his time at Derby County under his belt.

The Rams dramatically beat Leeds United in the 2019 play-off semi-final, and were then cut apart by Aston Villa in the final at Wembley.

Lampard will have fire in his belly to go one better this time while holding the advantage of play-off experience over his opposite number.