Super Kev praises 'threat' Mayenda before second leg

BBC News

13-05-2025

Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has praised Eliezer Mayenda ahead of the Black Cats' play-off semi-final second leg against Coventry.Regis Le Bris' side host the Sky Blues at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg. 'Super Kev', who scored 130 goals for the Black Cats in six seasons, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I thought it was outstanding, coming off the back of all the negativity, five defeats, leading into what is a huge, huge campaign in terms of the two games."For them to be able to brush that aside and come to the CBS against a team that is bang in form, really good side, and to put a performance in like that, I was so impressed. "I thought every player to a man stood up to be counted. Everyone brought their A-game and I thought the tactics that Regis Le Bris brought to the game that night was spot on. It's a credit to everyone involved and for me it's more about the players because we all know they're a young squad. "They're the youngest squad in the league. They could have quite easily folded but they showed on the night a lot of maturity and put in a hell of a performance. They're going to need that again."Sunderland finished the regular Championship season out of form, going six games without a win and failing to score a single goal in the final four. Le Bris surprised many by naming two recognised strikers in the starting line-up for the first leg, Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda vindicating their boss's decision by each netting at the CBS Arena. Phillips added: "Between the pair of them they haven't scored a lot of goals lately. On nights like that you want players like that to step up and they both did. "Isidor took his chance. For me, probably the keeper should have done a little bit better but if you don't shoot, you don't have the opportunity to score the goal, and he gets his goal. "Mayenda obviously preys on a mistake from a defender and slots really calmly. He's given them a fantastic opportunity of going through in the tie. I'm delighted to see those boys back on the scoresheet and we're going to need that again."The 20-year-old Spaniard Mayenda seems to have impressed Phillips most. "Isidor only touched the ball eight times in the first half, I think he probably only doubled that in the second half. So to get his goal would have done the world of confidence. I thought Mayenda was a threat all night. He's got pace. He's a handful."You can listen to more from Kevin Phillips on BBC Sounds.