Regis Le Bris must make this big Sunderland AFC decision v Sheffield United at Wembley – It’s a no brainer

Regis Le Bris must make this big Sunderland AFC decision v Sheffield United at Wembley – It’s a no brainer

After Wilson Isidor and Jack Rudoni traded goals halfway through the second half, Eliezer Mayenda punished a Milan van Ewijk error late in the first leg of the Black Cats’ semi-final match against Frank Lampard’s Coventry by a score of two goals to one at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Then, in a nerve-racking and stressful second leg on Wearside, Lampard’s Coventry took the lead that evening through former Peterborough United player Ephron Mason-Clark in the second half and were vying for an aggregate victory.

The Northern Ireland international center-back, however, twisted his body enough in stoppage time of the second half of extra time to head in off the crossbar and send Le Bris’ team to Wembley.

The Lorient manager, however, will be worried because, even though his wager on Ballard paid off handsomely over the two legs, his allegiance to Patrick Roberts may be waning at this point, and a definitive decision should be made.

With 38 starts and seven substitute appearances during the Championship regular season before starting both of Sunderland’s play-off semi-final matches against the Sky Blues, Roberts has been a constant in the Sunderland eleven this season.

Nevertheless, his performances against Coventry may have been indicative of a player who lacks confidence or is simply not playing well, as he found it difficult to ever get into the game at all.

He should be replaced in the play-off final by Mundle, who had a very strong start to the season before injuries struck.

Unlike Roberts, who should be in some rhythm given his amount of playing time, Mundle looked sharp coming off the bench and gave Sunderland a boost against Coventry when he was brought on in extra time of the second leg, adding a sharp edge and urgency to what had been a lackluster performance.

Mundle recorded three goals in the opening five games of the campaign and there is a sense that the 22-year-old’s directness and incision down the flanks would be more desirable against an obdurate Blades defending.

The fact that Le Bris has trusted Roberts throughout the season gives him the advantage of knowing the minimum work rate and general caliber of output the 28-year-old attacker will deliver at Wembley, while Mundle is more of an unknown, particularly given his recent injury recovery.

But as the season progressed, Roberts’ level of play and overall production gradually declined. He had five direct goal involvements by Boxing Day, which was already below average, and finished the season with no goals and just two assists.

In a game that is already anticipated to be stifled and cautious, as is frequently the case in a play-off final, Mundle offers a threat in behind that Roberts may not be able to provide, and that will probably frighten Chris Wilder and Sheffield United a little more. In addition, he may face Harrison Burrows if he replaces Roberts on Sunderland’s right, meaning that Le Bris may be pinning back one of Sheffield United’s most reliable attacking contributors.

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