Regis Le Bris Hails Mayenda and Isidor After Sunderland Edge Closer to Play-Off Final
Regis Le Bris has singled out two key players for praise following Sunderland’s 2-1 victory over Coventry City, a result that brings them within touching distance of the Championship play-off final.
Sunderland delivered a disciplined performance, executing Le Bris’ tactical plan to near perfection.
While Frank Lampard’s Coventry side controlled much of the first half possession, they struggled to convert that dominance into clear chances—largely thanks to a strong defensive display led by Dan Ballard.
Ballard, who was reinstated to the starting XI, earned high praise for his performance, including from club legend Kevin Phillips.
Le Bris also made a bold attacking decision, opting to start Eliezer Mayenda alongside Wilson Isidor, benching Chris Rigg in the process.
Though some fans questioned Mayenda’s link-up play during the match, both strikers proved decisive. Isidor opened the scoring in the 67th minute before Mayenda sealed the win with a late goal.
Reflecting on the tactical approach, Le Bris said:
“The players stuck to the game plan with real discipline. They worked as a unit and showed a strong team spirit. Coventry are a good side with great control in possession, and we knew what to expect.
The first half was challenging, especially on our left side, where they created overloads. But we adjusted at halftime, and the second half improved significantly.
We managed to recover the ball more effectively in midfield and created enough to win.”
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