Sunderland break unwanted record ahead of Championship play-offs, it hasn’t set a good precedent for Regis Le Bris
Sunderland Enter Championship Play-Offs After Setting Unwanted Record
The Championship play-offs are underway, with Sheffield United taking a strong early lead after a 3-0 win over Bristol City in the first leg.
All eyes now shift to the clash between Sunderland and Coventry City at the CBS Arena. Coventry head coach Frank Lampard is approaching the tie with caution, even though his side is widely seen as favourites — largely due to the contrasting recent form of the two teams.
Coventry may not have been dominant, but their performances have been far more stable compared to Sunderland’s, who head into the play-offs on the back of five straight defeats.
Sunderland Make History — for the Wrong Reasons
Sunderland have now set a new record in the Championship, becoming the first team to enter the play-offs on a five-game losing streak. While it shows they had done enough earlier in the season to secure a play-off spot before their collapse in form, the slump is still a major concern — particularly as they’ve managed just one goal in those five games under Regis Le Bris.
Fortunately for Sunderland, no team in the play-offs is currently flying high, with none of the four sides having won more than twice in their last five league matches.
Le Bris Must Rekindle Early-Season Spark
Earlier in the 2024/25 campaign, Sunderland looked like genuine promotion contenders. Their attacking play was sharp, and their confidence was high. But in recent months, that has changed dramatically. While their defence remains steady, their goal-scoring threat has all but vanished.
A key figure in that early-season success was French forward Wilson Isidor, who consistently found space behind defenders and finished with composure. However, recent games have failed to bring the best out of him — or fellow striker Eliezer Mayenda — as Sunderland’s style has shifted away from playing to their strengths.
If Le Bris hopes to guide the Black Cats to Wembley, he must restore the fluid, attacking football that powered them through the first half of the season.
