AliousSunderland’s Clever Pitch Tactic Exposed – Deeney Backs “Sneaky” Move as Black Cats Plot Wembley Return
Sunderland are pulling out all the stops in their bid to return to the Premier League, and their latest tactic has raised eyebrows across the football world. Heading into the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry City with a 2-1 advantage, the Black Cats have taken a creative approach to counter one of Coventry’s biggest threats—Milan van Ewijk’s powerful long throw-ins.
Eliezer Mayenda’s late strike in the first leg at the Coventry Building Society Arena gave Sunderland the edge, and now, back at the Stadium of Light, they’ve reportedly employed a subtle but clever strategy. According to talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham, the Wearside club has repositioned their LED advertising boards two metres closer to the pitch, potentially limiting Van Ewijk’s ability to deliver those dangerous throws.
Dean Ashton, former Premier League striker and co-commentator for talkSPORT, weighed in on the move, branding it “very sneaky” but entirely fair play. He pointed out that such tactics fall under legitimate home-field advantages and praised Sunderland’s resourcefulness. While the throw-ins didn’t create significant problems in the first leg, reducing Coventry’s ability to exploit them could prove decisive in the return fixture.
Troy Deeney, speaking on talkSPORT, expressed his admiration for Sunderland’s strategic ploy, calling it “a bit of me,” suggesting he appreciated the gamesmanship involved. However, Ashton humorously warned that Van Ewijk might still be up to the challenge, joking that the Dutch defender is “an excellent hurdler.”
The irony isn’t lost, as Van Ewijk’s long throws might not even be his most pressing issue—his poor backpass in the dying minutes of the first leg directly led to Sunderland’s winner, highlighting another vulnerability.
Meanwhile, Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has emphasized the importance of the home crowd, recalling how the sheer atmosphere of the Stadium of Light used to unsettle opponents even before kickoff. With over 52,000 fans expected, he believes the energy from the stands could make a huge difference.
With a spot at Wembley within reach, Sunderland are combining tactical awareness, psychological gamesmanship, and passionate home support in their quest for promotion. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain—the Black Cats are leaving nothing to chance.
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