Roy Keane and Jill Scott have agreed Sunderland were second best over two legs against Coventry City in the play-offs

The Wear-Tyne derby is just days away, but Sunderland were back in the national spotlight this week after a discussion on The Overlap panel saw Jill Scott and Roy Keane both reflect on last season’s Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry City.

Despite acknowledging the strides the Black Cats have made since promotion to the Premier League, the pair suggested that Sunderland were fortunate to progress at Coventry’s expense over the two legs. The debate emerged while the panel discussed Frank Lampard’s impressive start to life as Coventry manager. Scott asked whether failing to win promotion last season may have benefited the Sky Blues long-term.

Jill Scott said: "Do you think it's good that they didn't go up last season and have another season?" Keane immediately countered, insisting Coventry City should have gone through to the final against Sheffield United at Wembley.

Roy Keane responded: "Well, they should have gone up last year, shouldn't they? But I'm always reluctant to say that it wasn't right for them to go up last year. But I think a couple of years ago, and I think they were in the playoffs the year before Luton beat them, maybe two years ago and weren't quite ready."

Gary Neville briefly interjected to mention Viktor Gyokeres’ role in Coventry’s rise, with Ian Wright praising the learning curve Lampard has been on since managerial spells at Derby, Chelsea and Everton. Wright said: "What's good about the way he's gone through is that everything he's learned... what he's probably learned with all the negativity that's happened, what he's had to learn, how to deal with people. Like you say, Roy, it's probably perfect now, Coventry."

Keane then doubled down, reiterating that Mark Robins' side were the better team in the semi-final against Sunderland last season. Keane added: "And you know what, he's done well as well. Obviously, after the big playoff last year, the defeat, where they should have gone up, they were the best team in that play-off game, definitely." Scott replied: "Yeah, yeah."

Keane did, however, credit Sunderland for their resilience during a tense tie that eventually took them to Wembley, where they secured promotion against Sheffield United. Keane continued: "Obviously, credit to Sunderland hanging in there. And then you think, it might take them a few months to get over it. They've regrouped and gone again."

The panel then moved into a wider reflection on Lampard's managerial career, with Wright calling his commitment and focus impressive, and Jamie Carragher highlighting how high-profile ex-players are judged differently once they enter coaching.

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Carragher said: "I always think, using Frank as an example... there's a lot of really good stuff there in his short managerial career so far. But because you two are the same, such big names, there are so many eyes on you as a manager."

Keane agreed that setbacks feel heavier when a coach has been a top-level player. Keane said: "If you have a setback, it takes time to recover, I think, if you've had a decent career." Carragher added: "But you're almost not allowed to learn... because you're being this big player." Keane replied: "The plus is that, then, you probably do get, maybe, opportunities quicker."

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Wright rounded the conversation off by acknowledging the difficult balance big-name managers face. Wright said: "But then people say, yeah, if you go the other way, and go to a lower... he said, well, he hasn't got the players to implement his football. So, he can't do it at that level... You can't win." Keane concluded: "Yeah, that's unfair."

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