What Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said on Simon Moore, injuries and Coventry City

Championship manager of the month for October Regis Le Bris is hoping to avoid another potential banana skin when his Sunderland side host Coventry City this afternoon.

Le Bris was awarded the managerial accolade back in September for his exploits during the Frenchman’s first four league weeks in the Black Cats hotseat, after masterminding Sunderland’s impressive climb to the second tier summit at the start of this season.

However, the day after his award was announced Sunderland were surprisingly beaten by Plymouth Argyle. With the former Lorient boss scooping manager of the month again for October, he is hoping to avoid a similar fate when the managerless Sky Blues roll into town today.

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“I'm pleased,” Le Bris told his pre-Coventry press conference yesterday when asked about the award. “I’m pleased for the players, I'm pleased for the staff as well because there's a lot of work behind the scenes and I think this award is for the collective, it is a collective success so it's good for us but there’s still a long way to go.”

When quizzed about the possibility of the manager of the month curse coming to haunt Le Bris and his Black Cats side once more in the shape of Coventry, the 48-year-old added: “It’s a new challenge. I'm not superstitious so it's not a problem for me, it's a new challenge at home with a new experience, three games in a week so it's a tough week again.

“At home we did well so far. The last two previous games (QPR and Preston) were difficult away against strong teams, we didn't have a massive control on the game.

“I think we should play in a better way but we kept a clean sheet and so far if we don't concede a goal still a draw to start the game and to finish the game so we'll see tomorrow with a new challenge and a new experience.”

Sunderland head into today’s clash on the back of a goalless draw at Preston, in which they were disappointingly below their best as Le Bris raised eyebrows by rotating out Romain Mundle and Patrick Roberts, for Aaron Connolly and youngster Tommy Watson, with Alan Browne also coming into the starting eleven in place of suspended Jobe Bellingham.

When asked if those changes were too many, Le Bris said: “I don't think so. For the perspective of the season because we need Tommy, we need Aaron, we need Brownie and so on. The depth of the of the squad is very important so we need to trust them and accept the time we need to develop the same references that the other players had before with a pre-season with 13, 14 games before.

“We struggled but it wasn't only because of us, it's because of the opponent, the opponent played well and with a specific style of play and when an opponent played a good game sometimes you can face with all the challenges.”

The Sky Blues arrive having this week shockingly sacked their manager Mark Robins - who was English football’s longest-serving boss - in the wake of their midweek defeat against Sheffield Wednesday that saw the side slump to 17th in the Championship table.

On Coventry, Le Bris said: “It will be a new challenge with a new coach. This job is difficult even with good moments and bad moments. You have to deal with it, we'll see tomorrow because I think it's one of the main key points of our game model is the adaptability we have.”

In terms of team news, the Frenchman will be without key midfielder Bellingham - this week called up to the England under-21s squad for the first time - who is serving a suspension for the red card he received at Queens Park Rangers and thus won’t feature for Sunderland until the West Brom clash later this month.

Le Bris will also be without recognised number one goalkeeper Anthony Patterson who remains injured, having been out of action since the victory at Luton Town. Prior to his knock, Patterson had kept six shut outs, playing an integral part in the Black Cats’ stellar defensive record. Simon Moore will deputise once again, as he has done so of late in impressive fashion, having kept three clean sheets in the last three outings.

Le Bris added: “I am very pleased for Simon because he is a good professional. His attitude is perfect. Because he is training so well everyday, he is ready for the opportunity that comes. It’s good for him and good for the team as well.

“Anthony won’t be available. I hope he will be fit for Millwall and we will have two weeks to prepare him.”

Sunderland and boss Le Bris will be looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run to eight matches this afternoon with a win over Coventry - led by interim boss Rhys Carr - ahead of the November international break.