"Not getting beat" - Pundit plays down Sunderland AFC concern after QPR, Preston setbacks | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has been exclusively speaking with Football League World ahead of Sunderland's meeting with Coventry City on Saturday.

Carlton Palmer believes that Sunderland's recent draws with QPR and Preston North End shouldn't be seen as poor results, and suggests that Saturday's game against Coventry City is a fixture they will be confident of winning.

The Black Cats had to settle for a point at Loftus Road on matchday 12, after Regis Le Bris' side went down to 10 men after a Jobe Bellingham red card on 58 minutes.

Sunderland couldn't get the better of Paul Heckingbottom's Preston team in their latest outing either, as back-to-back away draws against two bottom-half sides has brought them back down to earth slightly.

With managerless Coventry City (Mark Robins sacked on Thursday) up next for Sunderland this weekend, they'll be hoping to enter into the international break having gotten that winning feeling back.

Carlton Palmer feels that Sunderland will be confident of victory over Coventry

Ex-England international Palmer believes that Sunderland's recent draws shouldn't be seen as bad results, and whilst he doesn't see their game against Coventry City this weekend being make-or-break, the pundit feels it's a great opportunity to sign off with a win ahead of the international break.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer said: "Sunderland sit top of the Championship, they're having a fantastic season, people are making a muchness of the fact they've drawn their last two games.

"Listen, the games come thick and fast in the Championship, and they've had two away games at QPR and Preston. I know they're two teams down the bottom of the table, but you're having to travel, you're having to go away.

"They played Oxford at home on 26 October, won, then they had to travel to London to play QPR on 2 November, got a draw, and then they've had to play on 6 November against Preston. Both away from home, I think they're two fantastic points away from home.

"You always say, if you win your home games and you nick a point away from home, that's good going. So, now they've got Coventry coming up at home, it's a big game for them, they also know that Sheffield United have got the derby against Sheffield Wednesday.

"All they can do is keep doing what they're doing, picking up the results of theirs. I don't think it's a make-or-break game, but obviously with the international break coming up, I think this is one where he'll (Le Bris) be saying to his players: 'listen, let's finish this game, let's get a win at home, recharge our batteries, and we will go into the international break top of the league'.

"It's a testament to his young players, and how he can get them around, but they've been absolutely fantastic so far. They've been brilliant the young players. You're always expect a dip, but they're not getting beat.

"It's not a case of you're looking at Sunderland and you're saying they're losing games, they're not getting beat. They've only lost two games in 14 so far, they've won nine and drawn three.

"23 goals scored, which is a fantastic stat, and they've only conceded nine goals. So, I think Sunderland are in good fettle, I'm sure the manager will be keen to say 'listen, let's get this over the line'.

"Coventry have picked up in recent weeks, Mark Robins (who has since been sacked on Thursday) has had a difficult start to the season, have picked up in recent weeks.

"But, they got beat last time out at home to Derby, so I think it's a game that Sunderland will be thinking that they can get all three points, and that would be a great way to sign off for the international break."

Mark Robins sacking sets up intriguing clash with Sky Blues

Coventry City made the stunning decision to sack the EFL's longest serving manager Mark Robins on Thursday, just days before the Sky Blues travel up to Wearside to take on Sunderland.

The club sit in 17th place in the Championship heading into Saturday's game, with just four wins from their opening 14 games. Results had picked up in recent times, however, as prior to losing to Derby County last weekend, they'd gone unbeaten in their previous three with wins over Middlesbrough and Luton Town, and a draw to QPR.

Typically, football supporters fear having to face a team that has just sacked their manager, as it can tend to lift the club and the players, but this sacking doesn't have that feeling.

In fact, it has the feel of potentially having the reverse effect, as Robins was worshipped by Coventry City supporters having taken the club up from League Two to a penalty shoot-out away from the Premier League, and are months removed from appearing in an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.

There was no suggestion that he'd lost the support of the dressing room either, which makes the decision even more of a shocking one.

As such, now could be the perfect time for Sunderland to be playing the Sky Blues, as they look to take advantage of a team who will still be in shock from this news come Saturday.