Sunderland's 'Coventry Curse' continues…

03/20/2025 02:00 AM

Our forty-year wait for an away win against the Sky Blues goes on, and this might've been one of the more feeble Lads' performances in that time, writes Paddy Hollis

Sunderland simply don't win at Coventry.

Margaret Thatcher was in the middle of her premiership and Britain's miners had been back at work for a month following the longest trade union strike in the country's history the last time we tasted victory in that part of the world.

The most recent visit to the stadium formerly known as the Ricoh Arena was another that didn't fill me with hope.

This was my fourth time there and three of these were for football. None of the three Sunderland games have been enjoyable, with an Arctic Monkeys gig in May 2023 topping every match.

I wasn't expecting to win last weekend but I was at least hoping we would stand up against a side in great form. However, what unfolded on the pitch was a weak and lethargic performance that we've seen repeated an annoying amount in recent weeks.

Coventry were stronger and faster in all areas of the pitch and I lost count of how many times we gave the ball away under little pressure.

They wanted it more and we didn't look like a side who've been in the top four all season. It was horrible and 'typically Sunderland' that the first time we lost by more than one goal all year was at a place we're cursed and have been for decades.

Standing in a side street waiting for a taxi while droves of jovial Coventry fans walked past wasn't a good way to end a Saturday afternoon and as the car took us back to the city centre, I got one last look at a stadium that I'm frankly sick of.

I'm not superstitious, but I believe Sunderland must be cursed.

I don't think Coventry were necessarily miles better than us, but their effort was far greater and what saddened me the most about this game was the way we just didn't look bothered.

Haji Wright had our life throughout the afternoon but every deflected ball and 50/50 challenge was won by someone in Sky Blue, leaving a red and white-clad figure in their wake.

Sunderland are now in an interesting position.

We have eight games left until what should be a playoff campaign and we need to ensure we don't stumble towards the first semi-final in patchy form.

The two-week break could either be a help or a hindrance in terms of putting Saturday's dreadful display behind us and once we return after this break, I'll have a renewed sense of optimism and excitement.

We have the squad to compete against anyone in the top six and win plenty of matches in this division. We know this because we've done both of these things and the horror show at Coventry will hopefully be a distant memory by the time Millwall come to the Stadium of Light.

It should be used to inspire the players to stay as far away from playing as though we're wading through treacle as possible, and to show how a lack of intensity is a killer at the top end of the Championship.