Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has called the play-offs "another chapter to open" for his side following their final-day 1-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers.
R's midfielder Nicolas Madsen scored the only goal of the game to hand the Black Cats their fifth straight defeat.
In those five games, Sunderland have only netted one goal but will need to get back to scoring ways over two legs against Coventry City.
"A coach is always on the edge about what could be wrong," Frenchman Le Bris told BBC Radio Newcastle when asked about his side's lack of goals.