EFL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL: COVENTRY CITY 1-2 SUNDERLAND

Eliezer Mayenda of Sunderland (right) in action closely watched by Bobby Thomas of Coventry City.

I had the opportunity to photograph the EFL Championship play-off semi-final between Coventry City and Sunderland AFC—my highest-profile assignment to date as a sports photographer.

Working on behalf of Sport Pix, I covered the first leg at the Coventry Building Society Arena. It was a competitive match, with Sunderland securing a 2–1 away win with a late winner scored by Eliezer Mayenda. The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and the intensity of the play made for some strong photo opportunities—from key action moments to the emotion of the players and fans.

Having started my photography journey in grassroots sport, covering a Championship play-off was a significant step forward. Matches like this offer great editorial value and I aimed to capture a wide range of content suitable for match reports, post-match analysis, and media coverage.

View and License Photos

A full gallery from the match is now available on Sport Pix, where media outlets and publishers can license images for editorial use.

Whether you’re looking for goal celebrations, in-game action, or player reactions, the gallery includes a variety of shots from the evening.

About Sport Pix
Sport Pix is a trusted source for football photography, supplying images to national and regional media across all levels of the game. For publications looking to cover the EFL play-offs or build out Coventry City or Sunderland AFC coverage, these images are available now. For licensing enquiries or further information, please visit sportpix.org.uk.