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.

Sunderland are expecting an FA charge after a minority of fans invaded the pitch following the conclusion of their play-off semi final against Coventry City.

Sunderland found the most spectacular route possible into the Championship play-off final and they put a smile on one lucky punter's face too. The Black Cats will face Sheffield United at Wembley in the richest game in English football with a place in the Premier League on the line.

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.

It’s the advertising hoardings cinched in tight to the touchlines like an LED corset. It’s Eliezer Mayenda and his apparent disdain for a certain Geordie songsmith. It’s a heartbeat like a stampede of lemmings hurtling towards a cliff. It’s nails chewed to the quick, to the flesh, to the bone.