Frank Lampard dropped his captain, changed four players and got exactly the reaction he wanted. Coventry beat Sunderland 3-1, climbed out of the relegation zone, and left the Black Cats rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
It was only Coventry's third league win of the season. It looked more comfortable than that suggests.
Two gifts and a deflection
Both teams arrived with six goals each, so a scrappy game was expected. Instead Sunderland handed over the lead. They made a mess of a routine cross and the ball fell to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who curled in a fine finish from the edge of the area in the 17th minute for his first Premier League goal.
Taiwo Awoniyi made it two in the 37th minute. He took the ball off Luke O'Nien far too easily, ran through some weak challenges and scored via a deflection. Seven minutes into the second half Jack Rudoni's shot hit Omar Alderete's outstretched leg and looped past Robin Roefs.
Le Fee's penalty is not enough
Sunderland's reply came from the spot. Referee Simon Hooper took a long time to review a handball against Ethan Pinnock, and Enzo Le Fee scored the penalty in the 67th minute. A comeback never really looked likely. Chemsdine Talbi missed a good chance, Brian Brobbey's one opening in the first half went wide, and Alderete was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after tripping Rudoni.
That red card means he misses next week's game against Chelsea.
Lampard's changes pay off
Lampard had made four changes from the defeat by Fulham, moving captain Matt Grimes to the bench and restoring Awoniyi to the starting line-up for the first time since he was sent off in the 5-0 loss at Brighton on 13 September. Coventry scored three goals from four shots on target with an expected-goals figure of just 0.71, helped by two deflections.
Sunderland had 17 attempts and more possession but have now conceded 17 league goals in nine games and lost six of them. They have won once, against Fulham on 30 August, and have been without defender Dan Ballard since late September with a hamstring injury. Regis Le Bris has plenty to fix.
Match facts: Coventry City 3-1 Sunderland, Premier League, Saturday 31 October 2026. Goals: Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 17', Taiwo Awoniyi 37', Jack Rudoni (seven minutes into the second half), Enzo Le Fee (penalty) 67'. Omar Alderete (Sunderland) sent off in stoppage time.
0 Comments