Despite losing two consecutive matches to kickstart their season, Coventry City appear to have turned a corner recently with a win against Middlesbrough and a draw against Swansea City. They’d face a Sunderland side on Saturday that has also failed to impress thus far, earning their first points of the season against Rotherham United last time out.
COV: Wilson; Latibeaudiere, McFadzean, Thomas; Dasilva, Sheaf, Eccles, van Ewijk; Palmer; Simms, Godden
SUN: Patterson; Cirkin, Ballard, O’Nien, Hume; Ekwah, Neil; Clarke, Dack, Ba; Bellingham
A relatively dull affair in the opening twenty minutes saw the Sky Blues defence tested well by the Black Cats, with Neil and Dack both having early chances for the visiting side.
The best chance of the first half came just before the half-time interval, with Simms driving a low, powerful effort across the face of goal – only to be denied by a superb save from Patterson.
Wilson was forced into action at the start of the second half to deny a long-range strike from Neil, before swiftly repositioning to block the rebound with his legs as the Black Cats looked dangerous since the resumption of the game.
An otherwise uneventful second half played out though, resulting in this tie finishing as the only goalless draw of Saturday’s EFL Championship action. Both sides have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, so there’s no midweek action for either club. Sunderland will return to the Stadium of Light in next Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff against Southampton, while Coventry City host Watford.
