Twenty seconds of stoppage time remained when Enzo Le Fée picked up the ball and kissed it before taking a corner. As intended, the Frenchman’s perfect, right-footed delivery dropped into the corridor of uncertainty that leaves goalkeepers torn between leaving their line or standing firm. It also dipped at the right moment for Dan Ballard to power a header in off the crossbar.
Extra time in the 2025 Championship playoff semi-final second leg was almost over and Sunderland had secured a 1-1 draw that consigned Coventry to a 3-2 aggregate defeat. As an outpouring of the loudest, most raucous emotion imaginable left the Stadium of Light feeling as if it was literally shaking, Régis Le Bris momentarily looked bewildered. By the time joyous comprehension began spreading across the Sunderland manager’s face, Frank Lampard was already a study in misery.
Sunderland were on their way to Wembley, leaving Coventry in the Championship for another year. Le Bris always believed that, at heart, football managers must be storytellers, and, suddenly, he had created the most compelling narrative of his career. His players bought into his vision to such an extent that, having beaten Sheffield United in the playoff final, they finished seventh in the Premier League last season, qualifying for the Europa League.
Everything went so well it appeared almost a fantasy but now this magic carpet ride looks in peril of ending. Much hinges on whether Sunderland can secure only their second league win of the season at Lampard’s 19th-placed, finally promoted, Coventry on Saturday. Coventry have won twice in the Premier League so they are competitive.
The Premier League is a new chapter for them but they are still efficient.” Perhaps overstretched by the demands of European football, Sunderland have proved alarmingly inefficient at times this season. So much so that Nordi Mukiele, the former Paris Saint-Germain defender, recently accused his teammates of turning “arrogant”. Clear the air dressing-room talks ensued and Le Bris seemed much happier after last Sunday’s 0-0 home draw with Leeds.
We were ourselves.” A manager arguably let down by this summer’s recruitment refuses to fret about a demanding itinerary that, given Wednesday night’s 3-2 Carabao Cup win against Brentford, has just become even more congested. Recent injuries to Brobbey and Isidor have exposed a glaring lack of cover in this department. While Florent Ghisolfi, Sunderland’s director of football, presided over some brilliantly radical recruitment immediately after promotion, backroom churn at the Stadium of Light has seen two previously key transfer market experts leave in the past year.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
