Match report
Here’s Louise Taylor’s verdict from a rapturous Stadium of Light. Thanks for joining me. Goodnight!
And here’s Frank Lampard: “Congratulations to Sunderland, but I’m so proud of my players. I think we dominated at home, dominated large spells of this game tonight … from 17th in the league, how far this team has come, competing with the top teams in this division.
“We’re not bitter, but we were the better team over the two matches. I’m so disappointed for the players, the fans, the club … but I can’t be disappointed with the performance tonight. We took control, but in extra time it became more of a coin-toss. We were getting ready for penalties … it’s cruel, but we have to take pride in how we played.”
You do, of course, have to feel for Coventry, who more than played their part and had a golden chance to win the tie just before the final whistle after 90 minutes. If Lampard stays around and keeps building what he’s started this season, they may well be up there again next term.
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Dan Neil: “This means the world, it means so much to me, my family, the fans, everyone,” says the South Shields-born Sunderland captain. “We had a game plan, we stuck to it … when they scored, we could have folded but we found a way. The crowd were excellent, we felt we could play better and it was a case of grabbing the bull by the horns.”
“Our goal at the start of the season was promotion,” he adds. “Maybe we got carried away with the last-minute goal [tonight] – we’ve got to go to Wembley and put on a performance. There’s one more game to go. I know what football means to people up here, and I’ve tried to put that across to the lads. But we’ve got a great group of leaders here. It’s not just about who wears the armband.”
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Regis Le Bris: “We were probably too nervous in the first part of the game … in extra time, we were better, we played our football. It’s a semi-final at home, a goal up – I think we were caught between two attitudes. Once they scored, then we felt we had to score.”
“We had a list [of penalty takers] but the corner kick was fantastic for Ballard. They deserve it, and now we have a fantastic final to play. [Ballard] is a strong man at the back, really important for us. Tonight, we’ll enjoy it and switch on for the final very soon.”
Phew. We’ll have a match report from Louise Taylor online shortly, but we’ll keep it going for more reaction here. The upshot of that insane ending is that Sunderland will face Sheffield United on 24 May at Wembley, for a place in the Premier League.
“It’s what dreams are made of,” says Ballard, the man of the match. “Our fans gave it everything today. I got up early [for the header] and I saw it go in, then I don’t remember what happened! I’m so happy the gaffer put his trust in me, I hope I’ve repaid it.” You have, Dan.
And teammate Luke O’Nien: “Credit to Coventry and their fans, it must be a tough one to take, it’s been a great tie. The whole game’s been a bit of a blur, but I just remember the last minute. Ballard with his top off … we’ll enjoy it tonight, plenty of time until the final, we’ll focus when the time’s right.”
I’ve barely had time to address the fact Ballard jumped and stooped, producing a sort of hunched star-jump that could only lead to a goal in the last minute of extra time.
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Full time! Sunderland 1-1 Coventry (3-2 on agg)
What an incredible finale. There is barely time to kick off again before the whistle sounds. Sunderland came so, so close to blowing it tonight but Dan Ballard was their hero. They will be underdogs against Sheffield United, but why should they care about that now? Sometimes, it feels like fate is on your side.
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GOAL!!! Sunderland 1-1 Coventry (Ballard 122') – 3-2 on agg
Football, don’t you just love it? From the corner, Dan Ballard heads in off the underside of the bar and the Stadium of Light erupts. Relief, joy, tears, unbridled glee. Sunderland are going to Wembley!
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ET 31 mins: A dangerous Sunderland cross is headed behind by Thomas, and the hosts will have one more corner …
ET 30 mins: Leo Hjelde replaces Dennis Cirkin in anticipation of the shootout. But will we even get there?
ET 29 mins: Thomas-Asante has a snap shot at goal that deflects into the side netting. I’ll wager a fair few Sunderland fans thought that was flying in for a second. From the corner, Thomas heads over. Two added minutes, and then (probably) penalties.
ET 28 mins: Bellingham tries to get something going in attack, but Coventry clear and Rudoni eventually bundles the ball far downfield.
ET 27 mins: It’s whipped towards Mundle at the near post, but he can’t do anything other than nod the ball behind for a goal kick.
ET 25 mins: The sub is going to have to be subbed – and he’s replaced by Jamie Allen. Sunderland have a corner, with the clock ticking …
ET 24 mins: Eccles is down for Coventry as Dan Neil tries an ambitious low shot that’s blocked. Eccles is up but limping, and goes down again as soon as Van Ewijk heads the ball behind for a corner.
ET 22 mins: A big challenge from Luke O’Nien, taking the ball from Wright when he had options available in the middle.
ET 20 mins: Unexpectedly, it’s Sunderland who are offering more of an attacking threat in this second half – not that it’s much comfort to their nervous fans around the ground.
“The look of existential dread on ALL the fans’ faces is delightful!” says Joe Pearson. “Nobody can take the stress of football.”
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ET 19 mins: Rigg picks up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. For Coventry, goalscorer Mason-Clark is replaced by Brandon Thomas-Asante.
ET 17 mins: Big chance for Sunderland! The hosts have been looking better going forward, and Chris Rigg gets in behind and cuts back to Mundle – but his goalbound shot is blocked by Eccles!
ET 16 mins: Le Fee links up with Mundle but overplays things again, allowing Sakamoto to cut out his attempted through ball.
Only three changes so far (two for Sunderland, one for Coventry) – perhaps a little surprising in what’s been a stamina-sapping game.
Half-time in extra time: Sunderland 0-1 Coventry (2-2 agg)
Fifteen minutes left for either team to win this tie, or we go to penalties. Who’d be a football fan, eh?
ET 15 mins: The corner is cleared but Sunderland keep the ball, with Jobe Bellingham’s attempt at a slipped ball in behind cut out. One added minute.
ET 14 mins: Mayenda is brought down as he tries to break downfield, but Madley waves play on. Le Fee, now operating more centrally, picks up the pieces and finds Mundle on the left, who wins a corner.
ET 13 mins: The ball is nodded down into the path of a player in sky blue, 15 yards out. Thankfully for the hosts, it’s centre-back Luke Kitching, who sends a half-volley high and wide of goal.
ET 12 mins: It’s cleared away and Sunderland have a chance to break – but Dan Neil (I think) is penalised for a foul on Sakamoto. That looked harsh, but the end result is another Coventry set piece.
ET 11 mins: Mason-Clark gets beyond Trai Hume and is brought down by the Sunderland defender. Another very dangerous free kick for the visitors …
ET 10 mins: It’s cleared away before Sakamoto’s shot rebounds to Dasilva. His floated cross causes Patterson major concern, but Mundle is there to hoof upfield.
ET 9 mins: Eccles shoots from 25 yards, and it’s deflected behind for a Coventry corner …
ET 7 mins: Eeeek! Le Fee gets in behind the Coventry defence and should really go for goal but tries twice to find Mayenda alongside him. It takes a last-ditch tackle to stop the second cross connecting.
ET 6 mins: Le Fee looks for Mayenda in the middle, but the ball just evades the forward and bounces through to Wilson.
ET 5 mins: Mundle is playing on the left wing, but his first involvement is at the back, taking the ball away from Sakamoto.
ET 4 mins: Romaine Mundle is on, replacing Patrick Roberts. Coventry’s latest foray forward ends when Mason-Clark handles the ball; I can’t really remember Sunderland’s last decent attack.
ET 2 mins: Coventry win a corner but Sakamoto heads wide from Van Ewijk’s cross. Le Bris is planning changes for the hosts.
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Extra time: first half
Sunderland look a bag of nerves – the stadium announcer tries to get involved, playing fan anthem “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” to get the crowd going again. It’s not over yet.
Full time: Sunderland 0-1 Coventry (2-2 on agg)
Ephron Mason-Clark’s goal means Coventry win the second leg. With the tie 2-2 on aggregate, we’re heading for extra time – and Sunderland will be relieved after Haji Wright’s dramatic late miss.
93 mins: What a chance! Coventry appear to be lining up the killer blow, and Sakamoto produces another excellent delivery. Haji Wright gets his head to it – but sends it wide with the goal at his mercy!
92 mins: Grimes’ outswinging corner is a dangerous one, but Ballard gets his head to it first. Dasilva tries to run into the area but runs out of space …
91 mins: It’s played short and half-cleared, before Sakamoto whips in a cross to the far post and wins a corner …
90 mins: Bellingham is penalised for a foul on the halfway line, giving Coventry a chance to swing a free kick in. Three added minutes before extra time.
89 mins: Dasilva thinks about going for glory from 30 yards, but decides to chest the ball to Kitching, whose shot lacks the power to even reach the goal.
88 mins: Le Fee looks to play in left-back Cirkin, but the tireless Sakamoto is back there to intercept.
87 mins: It’s Coventry on the ball here, Sunderland happy to stay in a deep block and wait for extra time.
85 mins: A half-chance for Rigg from a swirling cross from the left, which he tries to volley but miscues.
84 mins: Dan Neil’s errant pass is brought down by Sakamoto, but he used his arm to do so and Coventry’s hopes of a dangerous break are extinguished.
82 mins: Wright is penalised for a foul as he chases a hopeful long ball. Wilson Isidor is the man heading off to be replaced by Rigg, the 17-year-old who has lit up Sunderland’s season.
81 mins: Mason-Clark’s cross is claimed by Patterson. For the hosts, Chris Rigg is coming on shortly.
80 mins: What do Sunderland do now? They still look stuck on the back foot, with Grimes sending in another testing cross for the visitors.
79 mins: Rudoni dances through the defence but loses the ball, Mason-Clark unable to keep it in play to the left of the goal.
78 mins: Enzo Le Fee slips in midfield and brings down a Coventry player, earning a place in Madley’s book.
It’s Ephron Mason-Clark who connects with Van Ewijk’s deep cross, getting in front of his man and toe-poking into the bottom corner. Up in the gods in the North Stand, the away fans celebrate wildly!
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GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Coventry (Mason-Clark 75')
Coventry have their breakthrough at long last, and the tie is level on aggregate!
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74 mins: Another floated Sakamoto cross from the right is cleared by O’Nien, and Bellingham gets involved to hack the ball away.
73 mins: Wright is played in but ends up too far wide to shoot, so holds up and then cuts it back for Eccles, whose well-struck shot is blocked.
72 mins: Here comes the Coventry-born Eccles, replacing Ben Sheaf in midfield after a Sunderland attacking move fizzles out.
70 mins: Coventry again get no joy from Sunderland’s back four, and the ball ends up back with Patterson.
69 mins: A first change for Coventry coming up, with Josh Eccles coming on. It’s been a scrappy, spiky last 10 minutes.
68 mins: Coventry deal with the next corner, but keeper Ben Wilson and Jobe Bellingham end up in a scuffle, Wilson accusing the Sunderland man of holding him down. Just calm down, everyone. Both players are eventually booked.
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66 mins: Ooof! Le Fee’s cross is volleyed towards the near post by Trai Hume – but Wilson gets down to turn it behind. That’s probably the best chance Sunderland have made, certainly in the second half.
65 mins: A really smart touch from Patrick Roberts to set Mayenda away down the right. His cross is blocked behind for a corner, and he calls on the home fans to make some noise.
63 mins: Coventry push forward once more, but Wright slips in the area and the ball trundles out for a goal kick. Ballard is down after a collision with Thomas, but should be OK to continue.
62 mins: Grimes combines with Sakamoto, whose cross is cleared behind for a corner. Again, Patterson doesn’t claim it convincingly, but his defenders do enough.
61 mins: A rare quiet spell as everyone inside the Stadium of Light catches their breath.
59 mins: Ballard heads away to concede a corner, which is dealt with by Dan Neil at the near post. Some tired legs out there now – is either manager thinking about making changes?
58 mins: Sunderland finding a little space upfield now, and Roberts scuffs a shot wide after Isidor fails to connect with a cross.
56 mins: Coventry have 67% possession, and three times more touches in the Sunderland box than vice versa. All very well, but they need a goal.
55 mins: Sunderland know one goal could kill Coventry’s momentum, and they finally get upfield here. Hume’s cut-back leads to shouts for a penalty as Cirkin collides with Sakamoto. Not much in that, for me.
54 mins: Grimes’ ball in is another tester, cleared away by Bellingham. Sakamoto, who’s been great with his feet, then commits a second foul throw of the game.
52 mins: Plenty of nervous faces in the home crowd now, with Coventry looking the more threatening side now. Mason-Clark gets beyond Hume easily and is brought down on the corner of the area …
51 mins: Grimes sends the corner long to Sakamoto, whose shot is closed down. It rebounds to Van Ewijk, whose effort from 30 yards out flies wide. Coventry making a strong start to this second half, though.
50 mins: A lovely backheel from Da Silva creates space for Luke Kitching, who gets to the byline but sees his cut back blocked by Bellingham. Coventry corner …
49 mins: Haji Wright takes a heavy touch, then goes over under contact from Hume on the edge of the area. Nothing doing from the ref – the Coventry forward seemed to be exaggerating the contact.
48 mins: Van Ewijk gets forward to whip in a cross, but Patterson is able to claim it.
Did you know? These two sides have a long-standing beef, going back to the 70s when Sunderland were relegated at Cov’s expense.
Second half
We’re back under way. Coventry need a goal, or Sunderland will be off to Wembley.
“Are either of these teams worse than Manchester United?” asks Terry Nash. Maybe the question should be: could these teams beat United at their worst? The answer is yes.
Half time: Sunderland 0-0 Coventry (agg 2-1)
Coventry have reason to believe, having carved out a couple of clear chances – but it’s Sunderland who still hold the advantage, and they look capable of adding to it. It’s very much up for grabs. More soon.
47 mins: Mason-Clark tangles with Roberts and gets penalised, much to the Coventry man’s bemusement.
45 mins: There will be three added minutes.
44 mins: Another Coventry corner is cleared away, but it’s worked back to Dasilva, whose cross is headed down by Rudoni … but it rises over the bar! The referee had signalled for a push, in fact, so it wouldn’t have counted.
43 mins: Sakamoto puts in a cross which is cleared, and Sunderland threaten to break away – but Sakamoto himself gets back to deny Isidor. He’s been everywhere in this half.
41 mins: We resume, and Bellingham wins the ball in midfield before finding Le Fee, whose low cross is misdirected.
38 mins: Chance! This is probably the best chance for either side. Mason-Clark heads across goal and Rudoni gets to the bouncing ball ahead of Anthony Patterson, but prods his effort over the bar! The Sunderland keeper needs treatment after the players collide.
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37 mins: Coventry counter again, Mason-Clark getting free down the left – but he tries to find Rudoni alongside him rather than cross, and Sunderland regroup.
36 mins: Jobe Bellingham passes forward to Dan Neil, who strides upfield but can’t find the killer pass.
35 mins: End-to-end action here, as first Mayenda surges into the area but is denied by the retreating Thomas. At the other end, Rudoni collects a cross and mishits his shot. Sakamoto is able to get a boot on it, but can’t keep his effort down.
33 mins: Bobby Thomas is the fourth player in Andy Madley’s book already, and there’s a long way to go.
32 mins: The free kick causes some serious flutters in the home defence, with Patterson failing to connect as he tries to punch clear. Sakamoto’s clever cross back across goal almost lands at Rudoni’s feet – but then Thomas fouls Roberts to kill the momentum.
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31 mins: Coventry are moving forward with more purpose now, and after Rudoni’s near-post cross is cleared, Patrick Roberts trips Sheaf to concede a free kick and collect a booking.
30 mins: Le Fee is almost able to thread the needle and find Mayenda, but Thomas pokes the ball away from danger.
29 mins: Grimes’ corner is headed half-clear by Hume, but the Sunderland defence spring out to surround Sakamoto, who sends a hasty shot well wide.
27 mins: Ballard concedes a free kick as Wright topples over. Coventry take it quickly, seeking to free Mason-Clark down the left. He wins a throw-in, from which Ballard has to awkwardly clear at the near post for a corner …
26 mins: Enzo Le Fee ends a spell of Coventry possession with a well-timed challenge; I can almost see the MoTD highlight reel showing he “doesn’t just score goals” next season already.
23 mins: Ben Sheaf goes in the book for a hefty midfield challenge, and complains at length about the decision.
22 mins: It’s Wilson on Wilson as Isidor briefly collides with the Coventry keeper, then rolls around as if he’s been shot. All a bit tedious, and the referee isn’t buying it.
21 mins: Mayenda slaloms past his marker and fires in a shot from a narrow angle that Ben Wilson has to parry away. The ball is lofted towards Isidor at the back post, but he can’t steer a tricky header on target.
20 mins: Coventry are bossing possession but it’s all in front of the Sunderland defence – and now Sakamoto gets penalised for a foul throw. The indignity!
18 mins: Coventry win a corner, Ballard clearing behind under pressure from Rudoni. Dan Neil clears the first delivery away but it ends up with Rudoni, who is shepherded away from goal by Cirkin.
16 mins: Mason-Clark, who is operating on the left with Haji Wright in the middle, cuts inside and fires a shot that’s well struck, but straight at Patterson.
14 mins: An ambitious long diagonal ball from Coventry is headed back to the keeper by Hume.
12 mins: Sunderland are just quicker to the loose balls, the 50-50s, etc so far. Sakamoto and Sheaf do well to break up an attack here, though.
11 mins: Wilson Isidor pounces on a loose ball and hurls himself over as Kitching steps across him. He’s booked for a dive, which looks a good call at first viewing.
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10 mins: Ephron Mason-Clark, who replaces Thomas-Asante in the only Coventry change, gets into space on the left side of the area, but can’t find a colleague in cyan and the ball is cleared.
8 mins: Coventry haven’t been able to make a dent in Sunderland’s well-drilled back line yet. But it’s early.
“Is it just me or does Regis Le Bris look like he could be former Sunderland manager Chris Coleman’s stressed-out cousin?” asks Peter Oh. I can see the resemblance; Coleman managed both these clubs, and was pretty stressed for most of those tenures.
6 mins: Van Ewijk slips in the box, allowing Enzo Le Fee to chest down and shoot – but his effort flies over the bar.
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5 mins: Marginal gains dept: it seems Sunderland have moved their advertising boards to stymie Coventry’s long throw weaponry – and the visitors also found the heating turned up in their dressing room earlier.
3 mins: Ben Sheaf tries to pick his way through the Sunderland midfield but is dispossessed. Every interception is being greeted with huge cheers.
2 mins: Coventry, in their traditional sky blue, are caught offside on their first foray upfield. It’ll be interesting to see if the hosts stick to their first-leg game plan and sit back early on here.
Kick off
The home fans have unfurled a massive, black cat tifo emblazoned with the words “Till The End”. I’m sure they’d rather get it done in 90 minutes.
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In playoff history, 10 teams of 64 who lost the first leg at home were able to turn it around … including Frank Lampard’s Derby County in 2019.
Regis Le Bris: “We expect a tough game, we are halfway there … the crowd will be behind us, they can help through difficult moments.”
Frank Lampard: “We’ll play the game in front of us … we know how the first leg went, it’s fresh in our mind. We want to play how we’ve been playing in the second half of the season.”
Here’s how Sheffield United booked their place at Wembley:
Team news
Sunderland (4-4-2): Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Roberts, Neil, Bellingham, Le Fee; Mayenda, Isidor.
Subs: Moore, Browne, Rigg, Mundle, Abdul Samed, Mepham, Hjelde, Watson, Jones.
Coventry (4-2-3-1): Wilson; van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Grimes, Sheaf; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Wright; Mason-Clark.
Subs: Collins, Binks, Allen, Simms, Paterson, Bidwell, Thomas-Asante,
Latibeaudiere, Eccles.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
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Preamble
Coventry City haven’t played in the Premier League since 2001; Sunderland fell out of the top flight in 2017 and are yet to return. Both clubs have, to different degrees, been through troubled times since, but now the golden ticket is in reach again.
Chris Wilder and his Sheffield United side are the final-level boss waiting at Wembley’s gates, but only one team will get to take them on. Sunderland have a clear edge after winning 2-1 at the CBS Arena last week, but the playoffs are rarely so straightforward.
Will Frank Lampard continue his impressive run, taking Coventry from relegation fears to the playoff final? Or will Régis Le Bris back up his claims that Sunderland’s beach-worthy late league form would improve when it counted?
There’s only one way to find out. Join me for kick-off at 8pm BST, with team news to come.
