Black Cats still unlucky in league as Coventry loss follows more cup success

Regis Le Bris insisted this week he would not be heard complaining about Sunderland’s packed schedule as they balance European football with the domestic campaign, but the cost is already becoming clear.

Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Coventry, who started the day only one point and one place better off down at the foot of the table, means they have taken only one point from six league games since their Europa League and Carabao Cup campaigns started back in early September.

While they have four wins from five in the cups, Sunderland are stuck at the bottom of the Premier League with only one league win from nine, with that 1-0 victory over Fulham at the end of August an increasingly distant memory.

Trying to balance his resources, Le Bris had made 11 changes for the midweek Carabao Cup win over Brentford, then at Coventry reverted almost entirely to the side that started last week’s league match against Leeds with Omar Alderete the only survivor from midweek.

He could argue his side played well for long spells, spurning a number of excellent chances as they created more openings than Coventry, but there were perhaps elements of fatigue in the defensive lapses that allowed the hosts to take a 2-0 lead before the break.

There were boos from the away end at both the half-time whistle and full-time as visiting fans made clear their frustration at the collapse in home form, but with Dinamo Zagreb due on Wearside before Sunday’s match against Chelsea there will be no let up for the Black Cats.