Sunderland take on Coventry City in the Championship on Saturday, and it’s a game that could well highlight a potential weak point in this Black Cats side.
Sunderland are back at the Stadium of Light after a couple of goalless away outings against QPR last weekend, and then at Preston in midweek.
Regis Le Bris’ side remain top of the Championship table but now have a two-point lead over Sheffield United in 2nd, compared to what was a five-point lead over Burnley last week.
Coventry City have sacked Mark Robins ahead of the game on Wearside. Coventry fans are fuming with the decision and plan to make their voices heard at Sunderland on Saturday.
The Sky Blues sit in 17th place of the table and lost against Derby County in midweek. Whilst it’s been a poor start, they remain a team with huge threat, even following the departure of Robins.
They’re a very physical side too, and that in particular could cause Sunderland a headache on Saturday.
Physical Coventry City could highlight lack of Sunderland steel
Particularly in the midfield, and particularly with Jobe Bellingham suspended, it can be argued that Sunderland really lack a bit of steel in the midfield.
What selection Le Bris goes for on Saturday remains to be seen. But it’s widely expected that he’ll revert to his strongest XI having made changes against Preston.
But the central midfield, whether that changes to a two or a three, the personnel will be all of or two Alan Browne, Dan Neil, and Chris Rigg, and none are what you might consider physical midfielders, although none shy away from tackles either.
With Bellingham in the XI and in the midfield, Sunderland have steel, and height. They had that last season in the form of Pierre Ekwah too, albeit not in the same way that Bellingham provides it.
Now with Bellingham suspended, Kristjaan Speakman and indeed Le Bris may be ruing the fact that they can’t call upon Ekwah to come in and provide some added physicality in the middle of the pitch, and against a strong Coventry side, that issue could become prevalent on Saturday.
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Kristjaan Speakman must weigh up key January decision at Sunderland
It’s only become clear now that Sunderland don’t have a player like Bellingham who can come into the XI and do part of the job that he does.
Now, Speakman must weight up how Sunderland tackle the issue in January, or don’t tackle the injury.
Le Bris won’t want to rely on Bellingham staying fit and available throughout, but at the same time Speakman may be reluctant to throw another midfielder into the side when there’s still Milan Aleksic and Salis Abdul Samed to come into the fold.
Likewise, Sunderland may not even consider a recall for Ekwah, as they won’t want to risk impeding the development of Rigg, Bellingham, or even Neil for that matter.
Saturday’s game will certainly be an interesting one, with the game bound to be won or lost in the midfield area.