Sky Sports pundit makes ‘really difficult’ Sunderland prediction for Coventry play-off semi-final

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Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe believes Sunderland have left themselves in a “really difficult” place ahead of Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry.

Sunderland will face Coventry in the Championship play-offs semi-final clash, with the first-leg coming on Friday evening at the CBS Arena.

Regis Le Bris’ side finished fourth in the table, after leading the way for several weeks in the early exchanges, but were condemned to the spot they occupied for months before final day.

Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on final day, thanks to a Jack Rudoni brace, to cement fifth-place as their own and book a Black Cats double-header.

With both sides in opposing form heading into the semi-final, one Sky Sports pundit has made a concerning prediction for the Black Cats faithful, ahead of Friday’s opening affair.

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Sky Sports pundit makes ‘really difficult’ prediction for Sunderland vs Coventry

Lampard and Le Bris locked horns in March, when Coventry hammered Sunderland 3-0 at the CBS Arena thanks to a Haji Wright hat-trick, and both sides since then have endured polarising ends to the Championship campaign.

Coventry took six points from their final four games to sneak into the play-offs, whereas Sunderland lost their last five games on the spin, with their worrying run of form culminating in a 1-0 final-day defeat at home to managerless QPR.

Ahead of Friday night’s fixture, Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe told the Essential EFL podcast that Sunderland’s form has left them in a “really difficult” position ahead of the crunch clash.

Hinchcliffe said: “Coventry are a dangerous side, but Sunderland will be happy they’re at home in the second-leg.

“For Sunderland, this is really challenging, you don’t really want to be playing Coventry at this point because of the form they’re in, and the players they have.

“They’ve been in the play-offs for too long, they’ve just been treading water and I know Regis Le Bris has chopped and changed the squad to try and freshen it up because they knew their fate so long ago.

“I can’t remember another team that’s been in this position, so to try and go into the play-offs with any momentum is really difficult, they’ve lost five straight games, scored one in six.

“It can suddenly turn, when the pressure is on and a big occasion, Sunderland are a very good side but this is not ideal for them, but at least they’re at home in that second-leg.”

Sunderland’s head-to-head record against Coventry, and their barren history in the play-offs, combined with their spiraling form, gives weight to Hinchcliffe’s claim.

However, there is one metric in the Black Cats’ corner ahead of Friday night’s fixture.

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Coventry City record that will benefit Sunderland for second-leg

Sunderland head to the CBS Arena on Friday night before the decisive second-leg at the Stadium of Light next Tuesday.

Despite the Black Cats’ winless spell of form, it is the Sky Blues’ record on the road this season that could prove pivotal for Le Bris’ side, and offer renewed optimism ahead of the double-header.

Of 23 away games, Sunderland have won nine, drawn six and lost eight this term. For Coventry, they’ve won six, drawn six and lost 11 during their Championship travels this season.

Coventry’s away form puts them 12th in the ‘away table’ rankings, whereas Sunderland sit fourth.

If Le Bris’ side can end the first-leg on level terms, the Sky Blues’ 1.04 points per game record on the road this season would bode well for the Black Cats and the 45,000-strong Stadium of Light home supporters.