Coventry City vs Sunderland predictions, betting tips and odds: Sky Blues can seal first-leg success

Where to watch Coventry City vs Sunderland

You can watch Coventry City vs Sunderland in the Championship playoff semi-final first leg at 8pm on Friday, May 9, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.

Coventry City vs Sunderland prediction & best bet

Coventry
1pt 6-5 general

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Coventry City vs Sunderland odds

Here are the latest odds ahead of Coventry City vs Sunderland in the Championship playoffs

Odds correct at time of publishing

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Coventry City vs Sunderland predictions

Coventry have relied heavily on their home form this season, claiming 14 of their 20 Championship wins at the CBS Arena, and they look a solid choice to beat Sunderland in the first leg of their playoff semi-final on Friday night.

Preparations for the playoffs could not have gone much worse for Sunderland, who have lost their last five Championship fixtures.

The Black Cats made a flying start to the season and topped the table during the November international break with 31 points accrued from 15 games.

However, they were unable to maintain those high standards and approached the final months of the season with a realisation that they would be heading to the playoffs.

It should have been an advantage for Sunderland to have clarity about their situation, but that has not been the case.

Head coach Regis Le Bris has mixed up his team selections with the idea of managing the workload of his players, but it came at a cost with performances and results taking an alarming downward trend.

Sunderland may need just one big performance to turn their season around but that is easier said than done and they were beaten 3-0 on their regular-season visit to Coventry in mid-March.

Coventry have fought tooth and nail for their place in the playoffs and were only assured of an extended season after last Saturday's 2-0 victory at home to Middlesbrough.

They have been a force for the reckoned with in front of their own fans, winning ten of their last 12 home league fixtures, but they have been far less convincing on their travels and will be anxious to take a lead into next Tuesday's tricky second leg at the Stadium of Light.

The Sky Blues last travelled to Wearside in early November and recovered from two goals down to secure a creditable 2-2 draw. However, Coventry's away points tally of 24 was only 12th-best in the Championship and they have had a couple of disappointing recent road trips, losing 3-1 against Plymouth and 1-0 against Luton.

Watching his team struggle against a pair of clubs who were relegated will have been a concern for Coventry manager Frank Lampard, who has had a largely positive impact since his appointment in late November.

However, Lampard's immediate focus will be on the first leg and he approaches it with a settled side boosted by the recent return to full fitness of right-back Milan van Ewijk and central defender Bobby Thomas.

They played important roles in last weekend's success against Boro and can help lay the foundation for a vital victory over Sunderland.

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Key stat

Sunderland have lost their last five matches.

Coventry City vs Sunderland team news

Coventry City
Ephron Mason-Clark (toe) is a doubt and Norman Bassette (hip) and Victor Torp (ankle) are sidelined. Oliver Dovin (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Sunderland
Romaine Mundle (hamstring) and Aji Alese (broken leg) are not quite ready to return but could be in contention for the second leg.

Coventry City vs Sunderland predicted line-ups

Coventry City (4-2-3-1): Wilson; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell; Grimes, Sheaf; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright; Simms.
Subs: Eccles, Allen, Latibeaudiere, Paterson, Thomas-Asante, Binks, Mason-Clark.

Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Patterson; Hume, Mepham, O'Nien, Cirkin; Bellingham, Neil; Roberts, Rigg, Le Fee; Isidor.
Subs: Ballard, Watson, Mayenda, Abdul Samed, Browne, Hjelde, Aleksic.

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Coventry City vs Sunderland Bet Builder player stats

Stats refer to league games only; does not include unavailable players

Coventry City vs Sunderland bet builder predictions

Under 3.5 goals
Sunderland will be looking to keep things tight and their cautious approach may contribute to a low-scoring outcome. Their last 15 games have all generated fewer than four goals.

Haji Wright to score at any time
Wright was the hat-trick hero when Coventry won 3-0 at home to Sunderland in March and he can do some more damage to the Black Cats' promotion bid.

Trai Hume to be carded
Sunderland's first-choice right-back has been carded 12 times this season and could overstep the mark in a fascinating duel against Wright.

Pays out at 15-1 with Paddy Power

Read more on the EFL playoffs:

Championship playoff predictions: Blades look too sharp for their rivals 

League One playoff predictions: Leyton Orient can express themselves in playoff battle 

League Two playoff predictions: Fast-finishing Spireites poised to swoop

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