SUNDERLAND'S European dream is turning into a nightmare after a second Easter defeat, this time at the hands of relegation-haunted Coventry City at Highfield Road.

The Wearsiders had Slovakian central defender Stanislav Varga sent off for the second time this season after collecting a second booking early in the second half and it took a superb display by Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to keep the scoreline down.

It had been a poor display by Sunderland before they were reduced to ten men and it was astonishing that battling City - fighting to continue their 34-year stay in the top flight - could not kill off their opponents.

But Sorensen won the man of the match award for four superb second-half saves and kept Sunderland in with a chance of salvaging a point - but it would not have been deserved.

Niall Quinn, a 70th-minute substitute, might have equalised when presented with a wonderful chance in the second minute of stoppage time, but he lifted a tame right-foot shot straight into the hands of goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who should have been left helpless.

It was a terrible miss by the Republic of Ireland international, but no-one could deny that City had deserved to keep their survival hopes alive with a spirited performance led by the inspirational John Hartson, who scored his fifth goal in four matches.

Sunderland made four changes to the side which crashed 3-2 at home to Spurs, with manager Peter Reid deciding to give 19-year-old Belfast-born George McCartney his first League start at left back in place of skipper Michael Gray. Darren Williams was preferred to on-loan Frenchman Patrice Carteron at right back, with Slovakian international Stan Varga replacing Jody Craddock in the heart of defence. The other change was up front, where Don Hutchison came in for Niall Quinn, with a fit-again England international Gavin McCann taking the place of the Scottish international in midfield.

Brazilian defender Emerson Thome was quickly involved in a clash with the dangerous John Hartson and the Sunderland defender complained to Banbury referee Dermot Gallagher that he had been struck in the mouth by his opponent.

Hartson was in the thick of the action again in the fifth minute after a free kick on the right, slamming a shot against the legs of Thome before miscuing the rebound wide.

A centre from John Eustace in the seventh minute put Sunderland under more pressure and when Thome succeeded only in heading his clearance to Hartson, the bustling striker was unable to get in a finish.

There were a couple of flashes of danger from Kevin Phillips as Sunderland broke the pressure and after slamming an angled left-foot shot wide, a back-header under pressure from central defender Richard Shaw brought an uncomfortable save from Chris Kirkland.

Swedish midfielder Stefan Schwarz found himself with a shooting chance in the 14th minute, but he was off balance on the edge of the penalty area as he sliced his left-foot shot so wide it went for a throw.

Sunderland had an escape in the 16th minute after conceding a corner on the right, with Jay Bothroyd rising high but just failing to get his head to Paul Telfer's centre.

A long ball from the Coventry defence found Sorensen in no man's land after racing from his penalty area and after being beaten completely by the bounce, he saw Thome spare his blushes with a clearance.

But Sunderland found themselves a goal down in the 21st minute through Hartson. A clever build up saw Carsley, on the right of the Sunderland area, calmly side-foot a centre for the big striker - free of challenge - to dive in and send a low header into the corner of the net from ten yards.

It was a goal that had looked like coming and Sunderland were again at full stretch when Varga was forced to bring down Bothroyd, earning a booking.

The Wearsiders were uncomfortable whenever Hartson was involved up front and Sorensen was having a rough ride.

But Sunderland hit back and almost grabbed an equaliser in the 31st minute when Hutchison, breaking on the left, put over a hard, low centre which Kirkland managed to push away from the incoming Phillips.

Julio Arca, booked for a foul despite protesting his innocence, almost sent Phillips clear in the 33rd minute, but the England man was halted by an offside flag.

Coventry, fighting for their Premiership lives, were not standing on ceremony and central defender Gary Breen was cautioned for a rash challenge from behind on Hutchison near the halfway line before a better spell of Sunderland pressure, with Phillips slicing a 15-yard shot after a good pass from Arca.

The Argentinian fired in a powerful 20-yard shot through a ruck of players in the 42nd minute after a corner on the left and when Varga stuck out his foot in front of goal, Kirkland was alert to the danger and gathered the ball.

Sorensen was quickly under pressure in the second half and had to run from his box to head clear after a long ball from Marcus Hall before disaster struck for Sunderland in the 48th minute.

Varga, who had been booked in the first half, brought Boothroyd down heavily from behind and referee Gallagher had no hesistation in bringing out another yellow card before ordering the defender off.

Sunderland then had two escapes in as many minutes as Hartson headed against the crossbar and then Sorensen made a super reflex save to keep out a vicious left-foot shot from Bothroyd.

It looked like a damage limitation exercise for Sunderland as they made a 52nd-minute substitution, bringing on Craddock for Arca, who has been arguably their most dangerous player.

City were piling forward and Sorensen again came to the rescue with a good, diving save to hold a powerful, low 18-yard left-foot shot from Bothroyd.

But it was Hartson who split the Sunderland defence in the 58th minute, feeding Bellamy whose left-foot flick struck the quickly advancing Sorensen on the chest.

Bellamy and McCann were lucky to escape cautions after an angry clash in the 61st minute, but the yellow card came out twice soon after when Schwarz brought Eustace down and then Thome up-ended Bellamy.

Coventry needed another goal, but Eustace and the Bellamy wasted good shooting opportunities.

Sunderland made a double substitution in the 70th minute when Niall Quinn and Paul Thirlwelll replaced Hutchison and Schwarz - but the home pressure continued and Sorensen made another superb save to deny Eustace.

Sorensen had kept the scoreline respectable and had given Sunderland a chance of snatching a point, but Phillips put a shot straight into the hands of Kirkland when offered a good shooting opportunity - but it was nothing like the gift chance presented to Quinn at the death