View: Regis Le Bris has blueprint to learn from in Sunderland v Coventry
Despite going 2-0 up, Sunderland were pegged back by Coventry on Saturday in a 2-2 draw that continued their winless run.
Goal of the season contenders from Wilson Isidor and Leeds United linked Dennis Cirkin earned the Black Cats a deserved 2-0 lead at half time but things changed for the worse in the second half with Regis Le Bris’ side throwing away their lead.
Haji Wright and Jack Rudoni’s second-half strikes earned the Sky Blues a point, in a game that looked almost out of sight after 45 minutes.
Where did it go wrong for Sunderland?
A game of two halves is certainly the right way to describe Saturday’s encounter at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland took a deserved lead through Isidor before Cirkin doubled their advantage with a goal that will undoubtedly be a contender for the Championship goal of the season.
Quite remarkably, Cirkin’s goal had an xG (expected goals) of just 0.03, according to FotMob. Having played a neat give-and-go with Romaine Mundle, Cirkin drove up the pitch and arrowed a strike into the top corner from 25 yards.
After a plain sailing first half, Sunderland just weren’t at it in the second. Coventry didn’t pose much of a threat in the opening stages of the second interval but an unfortunate deflection gifted Wright and Coventry a route back into the game.
Alan Browne made the tackle which fell perfectly for Wright who dispatched past Simon Moore, conceding his first goal in a league game for Sunderland.
From that moment on, Sunderland looked ropey and never got back into the game for a sustained period of time. Coventry took control of the game and you could sense how the game would pan out.
After 65 minutes, Trai Hume made a challenge that wouldn’t impact the ongoing game, but instead cause him to be suspended for the Millwall clash after the international break. Joining Patrick Roberts in the process.
Hume made an excellent run into the Coventry penalty area but his final touch let him down, before lunging into a challenge that saw him cautioned.
His absence will be felt massively when Sunderland travel to the Den, as part of five players who will miss the encounter.
Another match-defining moment arrived in the 72nd minute when Isidor pounced on a poor pass-back, a huge chance to win the game for the Black Cats.
Isidor attempted to lift the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper but was blocked in his efforts when in reality, he should have done a lot better.
Unfortunately for Le Bris, the missed opportunity summed up the second half for his side who had limited chances but failed to take them when they arrived.
Similarly to the Hume incident, Sunderland would go on to receive even more blows with Browne and Mundle both picking up injuries that could keep the duo out until the new year.
Mundle’s injury was particularly felt by Sunderland on Saturday. His withdrawal affected the balance of the side significantly.
Prior to his injury, Mundle looked a threat and registered an assist for both of the Black Cats’ goals. A 90 per cent pass accuracy was key to connecting attacks and Sunderland never found that again when Aaron Connolly was brought on as his replacement.
Surprisingly, Le Bris opted for Dan Ballard as a replacement for Browne which caused Sunderland to sit deep and attempt to soak up pressure, which in hindsight, didn’t work.
Just minutes later, the Wearsiders found themselves with another excellent chance to kill the game, which they didn’t take.
Dan Neil found himself through on goal, with Connolly and Isidor for support but the execution was poor and a huge chance was squandered.
Neil squared the ball, or at least attempted to, to Connolly but his pass was poor and the Irishman’s effort was saved. It’s worrying to think that from a 3v1 position, Sunderland only created a chance that had an xG of 0.24 and it would prove to be crucial.
Just minutes later, Coventry equalised.
Rudoni found himself on the end of a cross, with Cirkin potentially at fault. The Coventry man is allowed a run onto the ball to generate the power to beat Moore from close range.
While many supporters will look at the previous two draws as okay results, losing a 2-0 lead at home to a managerless side near the bottom of the table is simply unacceptable.
In other Sunderland news, Dennis Cirkin is the latest star to be linked with a January move although their stance on departures should provide optimism on Wearside.
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