‘What are dreams of dreams’

Daniel Ballard described his additional time winner as “what dreams are created” after Sunderland sent to the Championship playoff final with a dramatic semi -final victory over Coventry City.

Sunderland led 2-1 with first leg, but it was Coventry who dominated the return to the light stadium, with a reward for their superiority when Ephron Mason-Clark leveled a tie on the aggregate 14 minutes from the end of normal time.

Hajji Wright lost the chance for a gilded spin to complete the turnaround at the end of the second half time, and this miss ultimately proved expensive because additional resilience on Sunderland paid dividend to the death of punishments, seemingly inevitable.

Ballard, who was great in the Sunderland defense, wrote in the club folklore in the 122th minute, leaning to meet the Enza Le Fee corner and headed to achieve the total win of 3-2.

Sunderland will face Sheffield United at Wembley for a place in the Premier League on May 24, spending eight consecutive seasons outside the top flight.

“This is what dreams really make. The fans were absolutely amazing today,” Ballard told Sky Sports.

“It was just to feel that it would not be our day and all the guys were desperately trying to give them something to celebrate.

“Which made dramatic finals and dreams.

“I was so nervous by going into that first game. He (manager Regis Le Bris) left Chris Mephama, who was our best player all season.

“So it was a big call and I feel about him, but I’m very happy that Gafffer entrusted to me and I hope I got him back.”

Save the date.

– Sunderland AFC (@Sunderlandafc) May 13, 2025

In the meantime, Chief Coventry Frank Lampard was left to demolish what he thought was an undeserved end of the season for his side.

“I congratulate Sunderland first, they go to the finals, but the immense pride I got in my players,” Lampard told Sky Sports.

“If anyone watched two games, we dominated at home, we were wrong and they achieved. I think we dominated the huge periods of this game. We played, controlled, and in the second half it was a wave after the wave.

“The players gave everything we came from – 17th in the League in December, and the players were great in the second half of the season.

“They had to confess to us because of the way we played the way the guys controlled the game they didn’t deserve. I was much older and I was a lot, so I took the shots and had success, so I might be a little more balanced in my job, but they don’t deserve it for those players.

“We are not outraged and congratulated by Sunderland, but we were a better team in two football games and that is why they will be so happy to go to Wembley.”