Daniel Ballard described his extra-time winner as “what dreams are made of” after he sent Sunderland through to the Championship play-off final with a dramatic semi-final win over Coventry City.
Sunderland led 2-1 from the first leg, but it was Coventry who dominated the return at the Stadium of the Light, with the reward for their superiority coming when Ephron Mason-Clark levelled the tie on aggregate 14 minutes from the end of normal time.
Haji Wright wasted a gilt-edged chance to complete the turnaround at the end of second-half stoppage time, and that miss ultimately proved costly as Sunderland’s extra-time resilience paid dividends right at the death with penalties seemingly inevitable.
Ballard, who was excellent in defence for Sunderland, wrote himself into club folklore in the 122nd minute, stooping to meet Enzo Le Fee’s corner and head in off the bar to clinch a 3-2 aggregate win.
Sunderland will face Sheffield United at Wembley for a place in the Premier League on May 24, having spent eight consecutive seasons outside the top flight.
“It’s what dreams are made of really. The fans today were absolutely incredible,” Ballard told Sky Sports.
“It was just feeling like it wasn’t going to be our day and all the lads were desperate to try and give them something to celebrate.
“What a dramatic finale and stuff dreams are made of.
“I was so nervous going into that first game. He [manager Regis Le Bris] has left Chris Mepham out who has been our best player all season.
“So, it was a big call and I feel for him but I’m just so happy the gaffer put his trust in me and hopefully I’ve repaid it.”
Save the date.
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 13, 2025
Meanwhile, Coventry boss Frank Lampard was left to rue what he felt was an undeserved end to the season for his side.
“Firstly congratulations to Sunderland, they go to the final but immense pride I’ve got in my players,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“If anyone watched the two games, we dominated at home, we made a mistake and they scored. I think we dominated huge periods of this game. We played, controlled and in the second half it was wave after wave.
“The players have given everything from where we’ve come from – 17th in the league in December and the players have been brilliant in the second half of the season.
“They had to concede to us because of the way we played and with the way the lads controlled the game they don’t deserve it. I’m a lot older and I’ve been around a lot so I’ve taken whacks and I’ve had success so maybe I can be a bit more balanced in my job but for those players, they don’t deserve that.
“We’re not bitter, and congratulations to Sunderland but we were the better team over the two football matches and that’s why they’ll be so happy going to Wembley.”
