Sunderland starting XI vs Coventry as Regis Le Bris set to make big call
Sunderland have a slender advantage from the first leg
Sunderland takes on Coventry City at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night in the second leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final. The Black Cats are set to be backed by a crowd of over 45,000 as they look to face Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 24.
Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda both scored this past Friday at the CBS Arena, giving Sunderland a 2-1 aggregate lead going into the second leg, cancelling out Jack Rudoni’s goal for the Sky Blues.
Regis Le Bris expects Romaine Mundle to be ready ahead of Tuesday night, but the game has come too soon for Aji Alese. The Sunderland head coach has a number of selection dilemmas after springing a couple of surprises on Frank Lampard for the first game.
Anthony Patterson will continue between the sticks for the Black Cats. Sunderland’s No 1 got off to a shaky start on Friday night but settled into the game. Trai Hume and Dennis Cirkin will likely operate in the full-back positions on Tuesday night. Both put in solid performances in the first leg, despite the latter playing on a yellow card since the 21st minute.
Luke O’Nien will be partnered by Friday’s man of the match, Dan Ballard. The two gave very little away to Coventry’s frontline and defended excellently throughout.
Ballard was awarded Man of the Match by Sky Sports in his first start since February as he justified his inclusion ahead of Chris Mepham. The Northern Ireland international made 20 clearances in the first leg.
Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham will continue their familiar partnership in the engine room. Bellingham made a crucial tackle on Haji Wright late into stoppage time to ensure that Sunderland came away from Coventry with their first win in 40 years.
Patrick Roberts will continue on the right with Enzo Le Fee on the left. The Frenchman showed his ability with his perfectly timed pass through to Isidor for Sunderland’s first goal on Friday night.
Isidor and Mayenda will likely operate as a front two once again. They worked effectively in the first leg, and Le Bris will be hoping his two top scorers can do so once again.
It means Le Bris will likely choose the same starting XI. It was a bold decision which paid off in the first leg and as the saying goes, if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
The Black Cats head coach will also have plenty of options to turn to on the bench if he opts for the same starting line-up. Mundle, Alan Browne, Chris Rigg, Chris Mepham, Jenson Seelt, Abdul Samed, Leo Hjelde, and Tommy Watson are all available to Le Bris.
Predicted XI: Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Jobe, Le Fee; Isidor, Mayenda.
