Sunderland maintain their spot at the top of the Championship pile for the time being, after a 2-2 draw against Coventry City.

Sunderland welcomed a Coventry City after they sacked Mark Robins in midweek, and Regis Le Bris may not have known what to expect from the Sky Blues.

But in the first 45 at the Stadium of Light, it was all Sunderland. The Black Cats took a two-goal lead into the break owing to superbly-taken goals from both Wilson Isidor and Dennis Cirkin.

Coventry looked much better after the break. Haji Wright pulled one back, then Jack Rudoni scored a second for the Sky Blues late on.

Here are five Sunderland talking points after the Coventry City draw…

Sunderland energy despite three-game week

Sunderland have played another three games in the space of seven days. Despite that, the Black Cats never looked like they were fatigued or tired, more so in the first half than the second.

Le Bris did make some changes to the XI for the midweek draw at Preston, though it was nothing drastic.

He fielded his usual XI against Coventry, albeit without Jobe Bellingham, and Sunderland looked as fresh as ever.

It’s a credit to whatever it is Le Bris is doing in training and also to the players for looking after themselves, and being so fit and firing during this congested stage of the season.

Sunderland attack is far from one dimensional

Last season, Sunderland were very one dimensional at times, often just passing the ball to Jack Clarke and hoping that he’d do something with it.

But in this current Sunderland XI, and with this new style of play under Le Bris, there’s so many Individual threats going forward.

All the midfield and the attack can make things happen. We saw against Coventry, Patrick Roberts or Chris Rigg getting the ball forward, Romaine Mundle running down the flank, or Isidor moving out wide or running in behind.

Cirkin even, he burst forward for his goal. Le Bris will be delighted to see his team having so many methods in attack.

Sunderland can be lax when leading in games

In games against the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Leeds United, and now Coventry City, Sunderland have shown some lapses in concentration when in front.

It cost them in the games against Plymouth and Leeds and now against Coventry. Despite that, Sunderland were in complete control in the first half and then allowed the Sky Blues to get back into it.

It’s inevitable that trailing teams will up the ante when behind, but Le Bris needs his side to remain at full focus for the 90 minutes, and not get at all complacent or lax.

Sunderland missing Jobe Bellingham physicality in the middle

Jobe Bellingham served the second of a three-game suspension against Coventry, following his red card against QPR last week.

Against Preston, his physicality and quality in the middle was evidently lacking. Whilst the Black Cats showed their quality against Coventry, Bellingham’s stature in the midfield was often missed.

Coventry are a physical side. They at times out-muscled Sunderland in the middle of the pitch, whereas Bellingham would’ve helped to combat that issue.

The Black Cats certainly need a like-for-like replacement for Bellingham for when he’s not available, or should he leave at some point in 2025.

Sunderland dealt quadruple player blow

During the game against Coventry, Sunderland duo Trai Hume and Patrick Roberts picked up yellow cards, triggering one-game suspensions for the pair.

Elsewhere, Alan Browne and Mundle were forced off in the second half with injuries, potentially making both players doubts for the Millwall game later in the month.

The good news for Sunderland is that there’s an international break now, affording Browne, Mundle, and the other injured players time to rest and recover.

Related Posts