NinetyPlus

🔍 Straight from the last chance, poor pressure on the ball from Sunderland, and tracking, influenced play into central positions, dragging cover away from oncoming runs

🔔Millwall to equalise through Femi Azeez, in which the game finished in a draw, one-one

🔍 Even when runs were effective, this could not be met with lethal finishing, as of technique

🔍 Despite instances of Sunderland achieving this to great success, their transitions were hindered from their decision-making, and touches

🔍 Millwall's defending, through positioning, recovery runs, and angles, allowed this to be dealt with

🔍 Yet, not many chances were fashioned. Sunderland's shape still controlled where play was heading, and allowed recovery by limiting space through tight-marking in central areas

🔍 As of this, Sunderland's midfield found it difficult to close off these lanes, especially with limited pressing forcing play elsewhere.

🔍 Further instance of Sunderland's cover being influenced, with Millwall's positioning to stretch this and utilise space behind

🔍 Although, this was made trickier thanks to the previously mention of Millwall's players pushing on Sunderland's back-line, facilitating pockets to exploit

🔍 Sunderland's shape was consistent from the first-half, and directed play into favourable areas by blocking off passing lanes into central players

🔍 Through recycling of possession, as of Sunderland starting from deeper areas/kicking the ball out from goal-kicks, Millwall were able to create better areas through use of wide-players being narrow, and full-back pushing higher

🔍 Second-half, shwoing Millwall's adaptation - positioning of central players with combination of direct play to force Sunderland back

🔍 Further examination of full-back's positioning being high to influence cover

🔍 Support around the ball, with direct runs into central channels, dragging markers away

🔍 Sunderland's influence of their high-positioning full-backs, and how this creates spaces centrally for switches of play

🔍 Positioning of central players to create spaces out-wide for direct attacks from wide players

🔍 Period of play where this was apparent, allowing influence on Millwall's positioning, affording more space for wingers to cut into

🔍 Sunderland's play in the final-third, using the half-spaces, and inverted-positioning of their full-back

🔍 Through control of play, Sunderland were able to convert off a set-piece, thanks to an inspired volley from Aaron Connolly

🔍 Millwall's full-back play, and movement off-the-ball, was conservative, with a lack of quality in their touches

🔍 Their positioning was deep, and did not influence Sunderland's cover for central players to get on the ball as much

🔍 Millwall's runs made in the first-half from these wide areas, and their ineffectiveness as of Sunderland's cover

🔍Sunderland's 4-4-2 mid-block shape during the first-half - influence on Millwall's play

🔍 Strikers aim to angle their run as ball is played across, shutting off the lane into the central areas

Sunderland take on West Brom tonight, at the Stadium of Light. Can they retake top position of the Championship, following a draw with Millwall at the weekend?

Here's their performance from that game, and how it might mean for their game against West Brom 🔍

#safc #SAFC #Milwall #EFL

The game went on to finish in a draw. Despite Sunderland's control in the first-half, Coventry proved their capability to adapt, and offer threat elsewhere.

Thanks for reading, and let me know if there is anything to thought about the game, or what either side needs to improve upon for today!

However, as of Coventry's further numbers pushing on, it became difficult for Sunderland's two-man central midfield to provide support in wider areas, and shift across to apply pressure.
As of this, Coventry's equaliser came, thanks to Jack Rudoni...

Following injuries to Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle, Sunderland were forced to changes. This resulted in them sacrificing bodies in midfield, and their press would see their wide-players attempting to show play into the congested central areas.

This greater central movement benefited massively, as Coventry's first goal would come as a result, from Haji Wright

Within the second-half, Sunderland would adopt a different shape when pressing, as of Coventry changing their style. This involved their wing-backs getting in higher positions, whilst having more presence in central areas. So, they utilised more diagonal switches to speed up their play...

Prior to half-time, Sunderland would make it two-nil, thanks to this effort from Dennis Cirkin...

Even if this was provided, Coventry's central presence would be met with immediate pressure, thanks to Sunderland's effective cover...

Interestingly, Sunderland would adapt in deeper areas, and have one of their midfielders, in Neil, occupy these central channels, blocking passes, or making it hard to thread a penetrative ball with the correct pace. Possibly from Coventry's lack of presence in pockets in front of their forwards...

Coventry within the first-half would struggle to break down Sunderland. Although their passing between the lines was effective at times, compactness, and a lack of rotation was apparent to stop their game...

Sunderland's opening goal came from this combination, through application of these central-channels, making it hard for Coventry to provide appropriate cover. Wilson Isidor would provide the cutting edge...

Furthermore, they were not afraid to exploit these areas created in-between the centre-halves, and wing-backs of Coventry, when looking to play forwards...