Sunderland AFC will be praying for Sheffield Wednesday repeat if they lock horns with Coventry City again | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday inflicted a 3-0 win on Sunderland in League One, but the Black Cats got the last laugh in the play-offs.

Coventry City stretched their astonishing unbeaten record against Sunderland to 25 years after humiliating them 3-0 at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

The Championship duo have met 13 times since the Black Cats last tasted victory, which came in 2000 when Emerson Thome's goal secured his side a 1-0 win in the Premiership.

With the pair occupying fourth and fifth positions in the league table, there is every chance they could lock horns in the play-offs at the end of the season.

While Sunderland supporters would not be filled with optimism ahead of such an encounter, they could take salvation from their League One play-off triumph over Sheffield Wednesday in 2022.

Sunderland got play-off revenge over Sheffield Wednesday after 3-0 defeat

At the conclusion of the 2021/22 League One season, Alex Neil's men faced the tricky prospect of overcoming the Owls after the pair finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Although only one point separated the sides at the end of the season, there was a gulf between the two teams when they met each other during the league.

Darren Moore's side inflicted misery on the Black Cats, with Theo Corbeanu, Florian Kamberi and Lee Gregory contributing to a 3-0 win at Hillsborough in November.

However, Sunderland avenged their defeat in some style by defeating Wednesday 5-0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to a hat-trick from Ross Stewart and goals from Callum Doyle and Benji Kimpioka.

When the League One juggernauts met in the play-offs, it was a much tighter affair, with the Black Cats edging a 2-1 aggregate victory courtesy of a 93rd-minute Patrick Roberts equaliser in South Yorkshire.

Neil's side then went on to win the League One play-off final with relative ease against Wycombe Wanderers and will be aiming for the same fate this season.

Coventry City a daunting opponent for Sunderland

While Coventry represent an entirely different proposition than Wednesday did in 2022, the North East club must look back at their play-off conquest as a catalyst for success this season.

The West Midlands outfit have something of a hoodoo over the Wearsiders and while that will be heavily referenced if they meet, all records must come to an end.

An added problem for Regis Le Bris' side is the form of the Sky Blues, which has been due to Frank Lampard's phenomenal record since taking over in November.

When Lampard was announced as manager, Coventry were 17th in the Championship table and just two points above the relegation zone.

Just over three months later, his men are flying high in fifth, having won 14 of their last 20 matches. While the play-offs are not guaranteed, it would take a brave person to bet against them.

If the pair do meet, then Le Bris' men will have to be at their very best, but they have proven they beat the league's finest, having inflicted defeat on Sheffield United and Burnley this season.

Of course, there are a wealth of possibilities which must happen for the rivals to meet again this campaign, but as it stands they are the most likely opponents.