Call it an ordeal that left Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris looking increasingly haunted by the grim spectre of relegation.

Brand it the stuff of nightmares for the furious Black Cats supporters who made the long journey home to the north east fearing the worst.

Roll out the cliches because they all apply after this ghoulish display had Le Bris and his players well and truly spooked on Halloween.

It was X-rated stuff from insipid Sunderland in what had been billed as an early-season relegation shoot-out, which was only a slight exaggeration, given the importance of the game.

But they were a defensive shambles and remain rock-bottom after being well beaten by a Coventry side that deserved everything they got.

As the ska classic Ghost Town by legendary Coventry band The Specials boomed out over the public address system, it was Sunderland who were left looking like dead men.

SKY BLUES FLYING

Coventry's acclimatisation to the Premier League after 25 years away has not been plain sailing.

Frank Lampard's men are clearly a united force, however, and that togetherness harvested back-to-back victories at Nottingham Forest and home to Newcastle a few weeks ago.

A reality check came with defeats at Tottenham and a 1-0 reverse to Fulham here last weekend when the Sky Blues were booed off.

But they were comfortably the better side against a Sunderland outfit whose own position is becoming increasingly worrying.

Lampard's troops tore into tackles and fizzed with vibrancy from the off as they chiselled out a third win from five Premier League games.

They led in the 17th minute when Japan international Tatsuhiro Sakamoto produced a stunning left-foot finish which flew into the net after Sunderland failed miserably to clear a high cross from Milan van Ewijk.

The defending from the visitors left much to be desired, but the manner in which Taiwo Awoniyi strode through the Sunderland rearguard to double Coventry's lead was far more shocking.

Awoniyi dispossessed O'Nien around 25 yards from goal, strode past Black Cats captain Granit Xhaka and hit a deflected shot which flew in off Omar Alderete.

Sunderland fans booed their team off at the break but things got worse when Jack Rudoni's deflected left-foot strike beat Robin Roefs.

Could Coventry beat the drop? You would have your doubts.

But only a fool would turn their back on the Sky Blues now.

There is too much energy, and too much drive, coursing through the veins of a football club with momentum behind it.

BLACK CATS ON THE SLIDE

Sunderland, let it be remembered, finished seventh last season and qualified for Europe for the first time in 53 years.

That they did so as a newly promoted side was all the more impressive, but second-season syndrome is threatening to hit the Wearsiders like a ton of bricks.

During the first-half, Sunderland created precious little and when they did, Brian Brobbey scuffed a low shot wide of Carl Rushworth's goal when clean through.

That felt like a big moment in the game, coming as it did five minutes after Sakamoto's opener – and so it proved as Awoniyi punished Brobbey's profligacy with Coventry's second before the break.

The Black Cats might have pulled a goal back as the hour mark approached but substitute Chemsdine Talbi dragged a low shot wide of the far post.

They finally got off the mark in the 67th minute when Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after a VAR check ruled home skipper Ethan Pinnock had handled the ball.

But it never looked anything else but consolation for Sunderland, whose large and vociferous support made their feelings clear, although many had cleared off long before the end.

It is now one win in nine for the Black Cats, who look a pale shadow of the side who had 17 points at this stage last season.

RUDONI A CLASS ACT

If Coventry are to defy the odds and beat the drop this season, the influence of Rudoni will be crucial.

The midfielder's educated left boot again proved an important weapon for his team and he is likely to be attracting admiring glances from some higher-placed clubs.

He scored a goal and was in the thick of things when Alderete was sent off in the closing stages.

Rudoni's technical qualities are certainly of the Premier League and he should not be short of offers if Lampard's men fail to beat the drop.