Sunderland welcome Queens Park Rangers to the Stadium of Light this weekend in a game that, on the surface, may seem to lack significance. However, the Black Cats will be closely monitoring other results across the Championship as the race for the final play-off spots reaches its dramatic conclusion. While Leeds United and Burnley have already secured automatic promotion, Sunderland and Sheffield United have guaranteed their places in the semi-finals of the play-offs. At the opposite end of the table, Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle have suffered relegation to League One, with several other teams still fighting to avoid joining them.
With two play-off spots still undecided, the final round of fixtures is crucial for a handful of teams jostling for fifth and sixth place. One key matchup is Coventry City’s clash with Middlesbrough. Despite the historic rivalry between Sunderland and Boro, it’s possible that Sunderland supporters might find themselves hoping for a Middlesbrough win, a result that could ultimately work in their favour as the play-offs loom.
Sunderland head into their final game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United. Their opponents, QPR, are set to play without head coach Marti Cifuentes, who has been placed on gardening leave amid speculation over his future. Meanwhile, Coventry and Middlesbrough—both in contention for a top-six finish—will battle it out at the CBS Arena. A win for either side could propel them to fifth place and set up a semi-final tie against Sunderland. Recent form shows both teams dropped points in their previous outings, with Coventry losing controversially to Luton Town and Boro being held to a goalless draw by Norwich. OPTA projections tip a draw as the most probable result, which would see Coventry clinch sixth and Bristol City leap to fifth with a predicted win at Preston. However, Sunderland may be hoping for Boro to spoil that scenario.
One reason Sunderland fans might prefer a Middlesbrough victory is the club’s troubling history against Coventry. The Black Cats haven’t beaten the Sky Blues since 2007—a streak spanning over 18 years. In the ten league meetings since then, Sunderland have drawn five and lost five, including a heavy 3-0 defeat earlier this season. Injury misfortunes have also haunted Sunderland in clashes with Coventry, including a season-ending ACL injury to Niall Huggins and long-term absences for Romaine Mundle and Alan Browne following their draw earlier in the campaign.
If Sunderland are to face either Boro or Coventry in the play-offs, their fans will be understandably wary. Sunderland’s past struggles in the play-offs and their poor track record against Coventry are cause for concern. However, there is a silver lining when it comes to Middlesbrough. Under head coach Régis Le Bris, Sunderland have managed to beat Boro twice this season—earning six points from those encounters. A notable highlight was Chris Rigg’s clever backheel goal that secured a 1-0 win early in the campaign, followed by a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Riverside featuring a standout performance from Roma loanee Enzo Le Fée.
In their last six league meetings, Sunderland have won three times against Boro, drawn once, and lost twice—two of those victories coming this season. On the other hand, Coventry have maintained an unbeaten record in their last six against Sunderland, winning three and drawing three. With those records in mind, a Boro win this Saturday could pave the way for a play-off path that favours Sunderland, both psychologically and historically.
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