Prior to our final match before the international break, we spoke to Dean Atkinson of the Sky Blues Extra podcast to see what Coventry fans are thinking about the fixture.
17th in the league, what was the story of your season before Robins was sacked?
It’s been a classic Coventry start to the campaign. Promise a lot and offer so little. For one reason or another we have always struggled to start a season off well and this has been no different. However, I feel like this time around it’s been a bit different. In previous years there’s always been signs of some sort of progress and a plan, but as of now I am not seeing much of that.
Haji Wright is your top scorer; what kind of striker is he for those who don't know?
Wright completely splits opinion amongst our fanbase, mainly due to the fact of how hot and cold he blows. One day he will struggle to get himself into games and remain anonymous, another he will completely tear teams apart with his pace, power and directness. I am a big Haji fan personally, although he is frustrating at times with his enate ability to make the easy stuff look hard and the hard stuff look easy.
What do you think of former Sunderland man Ellis Simms?
Again, another who splits the opinion amongst the Sky-Blue Army. There’s no doubt there’s an abundance of talent there (as shown during his 19 goal return last season), however he massively flatters to deceive at times and has to work harder in games to really fulfil his potential.
Other than those two forwards, who is your best player and who should we watch out for?
Ben Sheaf is the standout player in the team, and for me one of the standout players in the whole division regularly topping various stats. He not only has fantastic defensive capabilities in the form of tackling and interceptions, but his offensive part of his game has come on leaps and bounds the last 18 months. He is very much the driving force in this team and I have no doubt he could play at a much higher level.
On the other hand, which Sunderland player worries you the most?
It would be amiss of me to not mention Chris Rigg here. He’s started his professional career superbly with a string of high level performances and standout goals, all at the age of 17.
Depending on Anthony Patterson's fitness, it seems likely that deputy keeper Simon Moore will start again on Saturday. He's a former Coventry man, what do you think of Simon?
Personally, I was a big fan of Simon, but I don’t think that’s a feeling that many of Sky Blues fans will agree with. He was a little harshly treated early in the 22/23 season when he was essentially frozen out of the team for 2 poor performances, especially after a really promising start to his Coventry career. It will be interesting to see him in the opposing goal.
At the start of the season where did you expect to finish? And has that changed in recent weeks?
With a quality squad assembled and the shape of the division I didn’t think it was out of the question that we should be at least challenging for the playoffs and, given a bit of luck, potentially challenge for one of the automatic positions. I do think current circumstances those expectations should be dampened a tad, however, I still think a real shot at the playoffs should be the minimum.
Equally, where do you think Sunderland will finish this campaign?
It’s been a terrific start for this young and exciting Sunderland team, and I have been impressed, but I do expect a drop-off at some stage. Playoffs should however be a certainty.
What's your score prediction? Goalscorers?
I have always been confident facing Sunderland given our recent history, however I think with how things currently are I expect a home victory (2-1 - Rigg and Hume for the Black Cats. Sakamoto for the Sky Blues).
