SUNDERLAND manager Regis Le Bris is expecting a totally different game against Coventry City in the play-offs than the two league meetings between the clubs.
The Sky Blues host Sunderland in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final tonight with the return leg to take place on Tuesday, May 13.
Coventry eased to a 3-0 victory against the Black Cats at the Coventry Building Society Arena in March courtesy of a Haji Wright hat-trick.
And the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light in City’s first game since the sacking of former boss Mark Robins back in November.
Coventry head into the play-offs off the back of a euphoric 2-0 win against Middlesbrough on the final day of the season.
By contrast, Sunderland have lost their last five games and are winless in six, scoring just one goal during that period.
However, Le Bris feels the play-off tie will be a totally different game compared to the league meetings earlier this campaign.
Le Bris said: “It will be totally different [to the league games].
“In a full Championship season, you have different scenarios and different context.
“The players should be more or less the same but the event will be completely different.
“We know they can be strong, we know they can also have weaknesses, that’s the case for us as well.
“We’ll have previous information but now it will be a different game.”
History is on Coventry’s side heading into the play-off clash.
Sunderland have not beaten the Sky Blues since February 2007.
And Le Bris feels his side have learned from their defeat against City earlier this season.
Le Bris added: “We learn from every experience.
“During this [the Coventry] game we made individual mistakes and the game changed in those moments.
“It was just before the international break so we were at the end of a cycle and probably a little bit exhausted.
“It will be totally different now.”
Coventry host Sunderland in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals on Friday, May 9 with kick-off at 8pm at the CBS Arena.
