Dan Ballard headed home in the last minute of extra-time to steer Sunderland into the Championship play-off final, as they beat Coventry 3-2 on aggregate.

Sunderland led 2-1 heading into the second leg, but Ephron Mason-Clark took them to extra-time after levelling the tie late in the second half.

And when penalties loomed, Ballard struck. Nodding in from a corner in the second minute of added time to send the Stadium of Light into meltdown.

Sunderland now face Sheffield United in the final at Wembley, after the Blades made history in beating Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in the other semi-final.

Super Dan Ballard – who didn’t even expect to start the tie

Things change so fast in football. Ballard did not even expect to start the first leg, let alone become the toast of Wearside after the second.

The defender had not started a game since February before Friday night’s trip to Coventry. But he was immense throughout the tie in defence, and provided an incredible moment to win it at the other end.

Dan Ballard on Sky Sports Football:

“It’s what dreams are made of, really. The fans today were absolutely incredible. It was just feeling like it wasn’t going to be our day.

“All the lads were desperate to give them something to celebrate. What a dramatic final. It’s what dreams are made of.

“I got up too early [for the header]. I was so determined, and I can’t remember what happened. It just happened like that. It was some feeling that.

“I was so nervous going into that first game. He [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.”

A terrific Tifo set an epic stage

Tifos have become the recent talk of the town in English football, and Sunderland’s did not disappoint – providing an epic staging for the second leg.

Coventry carve their way back into the tie

It was a tactically-astute performance from Sunderland in the first leg. A brilliant away-day display to give themselves the lead heading into the second.

But it felt as if they were sitting a little too deep at the Stadium of Light, inviting a little too much pressure. It told on 76 minutes as Coventry found the breakthrough – Mason-Clark getting on to the end of Milan van Ewijk’s cross to feed a low shot into the bottom corner.

“It had been coming,” Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips told Sky Sports Football. “They put so many crosses into the box and Sunderland were giving them too much time and space.”

Into extra-time… where Ballard becomes the hero

Haji Wright then missed a glorious chance at the end of the 90 minutes and we were into extra-time. It seemed like penalties were destined, but, with the last kick of the game – well, the last head of the tie – Ballard rose from a corner to nod one in off the bar.

“If anyone deserved to score a winner in this game it was Dan Ballard,” co-commentator Don Goodman told Sky Sports Football. “He has been immense in both legs.”

Cue bedlam. “This is a volume of noise I’ve not heard before,” added Jobi McAnuff on the mic.