Sunderland Secures Championship Play-Off Lead Over Coventry with Late Winner

Sunderland secured a surprising 2-1 victory over Coventry City in the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final, overcoming a recent poor run of form that included five straight defeats. Wilson Isidor broke his goal drought to put Sunderland ahead, but Coventry quickly equalized through Jack Rudoni. The decisive moment came late in the match when Coventry's Milan van Ewijk made a costly backpass error, allowing Eliezer Mayenda to score the winning goal. Sunderland's strategy of sitting deep and counter-attacking proved effective against a Coventry side that dominated possession but lacked creativity in the final third. Despite Coventry's strong home record, Sunderland's resolute defending and clinical finishing gave them an advantage to take into the second leg at the Stadium of Light. The result has shifted expectations ahead of the return match, with Sunderland looking to build on their momentum despite their recent struggles.