Daniel Ballard described his extra-time winner as “what desires are fabricated from” after he despatched Sunderland by means of to the Championship play-off closing with a dramatic semi-final win over Coventry Metropolis.
Sunderland led 2-1 from the primary leg, but it surely was Coventry who dominated the return on the Stadium of the Gentle, with the reward for his or her superiority coming when Ephron Mason-Clark levelled the tie on mixture 14 minutes from the top of regular time.
Haji Wright wasted a gilt-edged probability to finish the turnaround on the finish of second-half stoppage time, and that miss finally proved expensive as Sunderland’s extra-time resilience paid dividends proper on the loss of life with penalties seemingly inevitable.
Ballard, who was glorious in defence for Sunderland, wrote himself into membership folklore within the 122nd minute, stooping to satisfy Enzo Le Charge’s nook and head in off the bar to clinch a 3-2 mixture win.
Sunderland will face Sheffield United at Wembley for a spot within the Premier League on Could 24, having spent eight consecutive seasons exterior the highest flight.
“It’s what desires are fabricated from actually. The followers as we speak have been completely unbelievable,” Ballard informed Sky Sports activities.
“It was simply feeling prefer it wasn’t going to be our day and all of the lads have been determined to attempt to give them one thing to have fun.
“What a dramatic finale and stuff desires are fabricated from.
“I used to be so nervous going into that first recreation. He [manager Regis Le Bris] has left Chris Mepham out who has been our greatest participant all season.
“So, it was an enormous name and I really feel for him however I’m simply so glad the gaffer put his belief in me and hopefully I’ve repaid it.”
Save the date.
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 13, 2025
In the meantime, Coventry boss Frank Lampard was left to rue what he felt was an undeserved finish to the season for his aspect.
“Firstly congratulations to Sunderland, they go to the ultimate however immense delight I’ve received in my gamers,” Lampard informed Sky Sports activities.
“If anybody watched the 2 video games, we dominated at house, we made a mistake and so they scored. I believe we dominated large durations of this recreation. We performed, managed and within the second half it was wave after wave.
“The gamers have given all the things from the place we’ve come from – seventeenth within the league in December and the gamers have been sensible within the second half of the season.
“They needed to concede to us due to the best way we performed and with the best way the lads managed the sport they don’t deserve it. I’m so much older and I’ve been round so much so I’ve taken whacks and I’ve had success so perhaps I could be a bit extra balanced in my job however for these gamers, they don’t deserve that.
“We’re not bitter, and congratulations to Sunderland however we have been the higher crew over the 2 soccer matches and that’s why they’ll be so glad going to Wembley.”
