It wasn’t the celebration Frank Lampard had in mind—especially not with the haunting memories of a £2,000 bar tab from six years ago when Derby reached the playoff final.
This time, though, there’s no final to celebrate.
Coventry’s heartbreak came in the most dramatic way possible as Sunderland snatched a last-gasp winner in extra time, ending their playoff hopes and any plans for a post-match pint.
A Stadium Erupts as Dan Ballard Becomes Sunderland’s Hero
Dan Ballard turned the Stadium of Light into a madhouse with a 123rd-minute header that nearly blew the roof off.
Sunderland will now face Sheffield United at Wembley.
The game itself? Far from a classic. But that finish? Pure chaos.
Before Ballard’s winner, it looked like penalties were calling.
Coventry had battled their way back into the match, but Sunderland found one final surge—and it was enough.
Not Quite Box Office Football, but One Wild Ending
Let’s be real—most of this game wasn’t pretty.
If you blinked, you might have missed the action… because it didn’t really start until late.
It was only when Ephron Mason-Clark volleyed home in the 76th minute that things livened up.
Before that, it was a slog of heavy touches and nervous energy.
Even the crowd, which brought a thunderous 46,000-strong atmosphere, had to wait for something to cheer about.
Their flamethrowers lit up the sky pre-kickoff, but the football barely sparked until well into the second half.
A Battle of Wills, Not Skills
The players looked more anxious than inspired.
Coventry tried to make something happen through Mason-Clark and Van Ewijk, while Sunderland had little to show for themselves—no control, no fluidity, and not a hint of conviction.
Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Jack Rudoni both squandered golden chances from inside six yards for Coventry, letting Sunderland off the hook.
At halftime, the stats told the story: just one shot on target each.