Sunderland vs Coventry Betting Tips and Predictions

Our betting expert has three Sunderland vs Coventry tips for Tuesday’s Championship play-off semi-final second leg at the Stadium of Light (kick-off, 8pm). Scroll down for the analysis behind his selections.

• Coventry Draw No Bet @ 5/4 with Paddy Power
• Jack Rudoni to score or assist @ 7/4 with Sky Bet
• BetBuilder – Haji Wright to have 1+ shot on target, Trai Hume to be booked and both teams to score @ 13/2 with bet365

Head-to-head record in Sky Blues’ favour

Coventry seemingly have their work cut out to make it to Wembley after falling to a 2-1 defeat in their Championship play-off semi-final first leg at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday night.

Sunderland have only been beaten four times at the Stadium of Light in the league this season, winning 12 of their 23 games, but there are reasons for the Sky Blues to be optimistic.

Prior to winning on Friday, the Black Cats had lost five games on the bounce, three of which were at home, while they failed to score in four of those outings – including all three losses at their home base.

Their minds may not have been truly focused on the task at hand, admittedly, as they were always going to finish fourth, but they only ended that rotten streak with the help of an individual error from Milan van Ewijk and they are unlikely to get such gifts on Tuesday.

The Sky Blues have an excellent record against Sunderland too and had enjoyed a 10-game unbeaten run against the Black Cats prior to the first-leg defeat, which includes five wins.

The Midlands outfit won 3-0 at the Stadium of Light this season and while they only drew 2-2 there earlier this season, that draw came days after Mark Robins had been sacked and before Frank Lampard had been appointed.

The former England ace has certainly had a transformative effect at the CBS Arena, not least demonstrated by the 3-0 win over Regis Le Bris’ side there in March, and having garnered 52 points from 29 games, he has shown he knows how to win with this squad.

The Sky Blues know they have to go out and win the game on Tuesday night, while their hosts – who are in a poor run of form at home – do not, and that may work in Lampard’s favour.

Sunderland vs Coventry City Tip 1: Coventry City Draw No Bet @ 5/4 with Paddy Power

In-form Rudoni can star again

While it may have taken a little while for Lampard to get the best out of Jack Rudoni, there is little doubt that the 23-year-old has ultimately been a key reason the Sky Blues have got to the play-offs, finishing as Coventry’s second highest scorer with 10 goals, while also providing 12 assists, twice as many as his nearest challenger.

Rudoni also scored City’s goal on Friday to make it seven goals in his last 11 appearances, and he looks likely to play a major role if Coventry are to turn this tie around in their favour.

Sunderland vs Coventry City Tip 2: Jack Rudoni to score or assist @ 7/4 with Sky Bet

Wright can be a thorn in Sunderland’s side

While Rudoni has been fantastic for Coventry in recent months, Haji Wright is their leading scorer and things may have gone differently for the Sky Blues this season had he been free from injury.

The American has bagged 12 goals from 28 appearances, while he averages 2.31 shots per 90 minutes and 1.25 on target – and he has proven his ability to test Sunderland with four goals in three games so far this season – he can at least land an effort on target once again.

With Sunderland perhaps set to face plenty of pressure as Coventry chase the game, Trai Hume looks a prime candidate for a yellow card. No Sunderland player has received more cautions than his tally of 11, while he was booked in both meetings against the Sky Blues during the regular season.

To round off the Bet Builder, back both teams to score as they did in the first leg on Friday, as well as the season’s earlier meeting at the Stadium of Light.

Coventry have scored in all three games between the two so far this season, while the Black Cats now have home advantage and have already demonstrated their threat on the counter in the first leg.

Sunderland vs Coventry City Tip 3: BetBuilder – Haji Wright to have 1+ shot on target, Trai Hume to be booked and both teams to score @ 13/2 with bet365