The Sky Sports presenter and Sunderland fan sits on the board as a non-executive director, said the night was a ‘stark reminder’ of the club’s ‘unique power’. Fans had lined the streets around the Stadium to welcome the players two hours before kick, with the atmosphere in the ground up there with the best of the modern era.

Follow live coverage as Sunderland face Coventry City in the Championship today.An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

The Black Cats reached the Championship play-off final after Dan Ballard's last-gasp header in extra time decided their semi-final tie against Coventry City

The Sunderland pair reacted on social media to Sunderland’s win against Coventry in the play-offs Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fée have shared emotional messages with Sunderland supporters following the club’s dramatic Championship play-off semi-final victory over Coventry City.

Frank Lampard will need to perform another play-off semi-final miracle when his Coventry City side travel to the Stadium of Light looking to overturn a one-goal deficit on aggregate

Three of the Championship play-off teams have a history, which explains why Jimmy Hill's name may echo around Coventry's away end tonight

COVENTRY, England (AP) — Sunderland struck late to beat host Coventry 2-1 on Friday in the first leg of the Championship semifinal playoffs.

Leo Hjelde has emerged as a surprise penalty-taking option for Sunderland after his late introduction in the play-off semi final against Coventry City.