Coventry vs Sunderland predictions: Cov to tame the Black Cats
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- Sunderland have lost their last five matches
- Coventry have won seven of their last eight home games
- Recommended bet: Coventry to win
Coventry were in the doldrums back in November and the decision to sack popular manager Mark Robins was a controversial one despite the club sitting 17th in the Championship standings.
However, a stunning revival under replacement boss Frank Lampard silenced the critics with the Sky Blues now just a possible 270 minutes away from returning to the English top flight.
Cov have won 16 of their 29 league matches under the former Chelsea and Everton coach and they have timed their play-off run to perfection, winning seven of their last eight outings on home soil.
They looked to be running out of steam last month as defeats to Luton and Plymouth put their top-six hopes in jeopardy, but last Saturday's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough ensured a fifth-place finish and a shot at making the well-rewarded leap into the Premier League.
In contrast, Sunderland look to have hit the skids at just the wrong time, and they limped into the play-offs despite a six-match winless streak.
The Black Cats did most of their best work earlier in the campaign and spent much of the season in the play-off places.
Team news
First-choice goalkeeper Oliver Dovin (knee) is likely to miss out once more for Coventry, meaning that Ben Wilson should be in goal for Friday's first leg.
Injured pair Ephron Mason-Clark (foot) and Norman Bassette (hip) will also miss out for the Sky Blues following a hectic recent schedule.
Victor Torp is also an absentee, so Matt Grimes could again partner Ben Sheaf in central midfield.
Sunderland are also without a number of key men, with Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Ian Poveda (leg) still a week or so away from returning to action.
The stats
Sunderland have lost their last five matches.
Coventry have won 16 of 29 league matches with Lampard in charge.
Cov have won seven of their last eight outings on home soil.
The Sky Blues beat Sunderland 3-0 in March.
Sunderland have not beaten Coventry in 10 meetings, a run stretching back to 2007.
The Black Cats have scored just one goal in their last five matches.
Prediction
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Coventry emphatically got the better of Sunderland as recently as March, and the in-form Sky Blues are fancied to produce something similar to that 3-0 drubbing two months ago.
The Black Cats have failed to show their claws in recent weeks and they made the play-offs mainly thanks to their performances earlier on in the campaign.
They have a poor recent record against Coventry, and their 10-match winless streak against the Sky Blues looks set to be extended.
Cov are a tough nut to crack on home soil and they are fancied to secure a victory ahead of their play-off semi-final second leg at the Stadium of Light next Tuesday.
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