Régis Le Bris wasn’t holding back as he issues Response to Bitter Frank Lampard who indirectly claimed ‘Sunderland did Not Deserve to WIN the tie, Coventry were a better team’ —Reveals the key game-changer move from Black Cats that outsmarted Super Frankie and WON the game for the hosts

Régis Le Bris acknowledged his Sunderland team had found it difficult to get their strategy right against Coventry City on Tuesday night but commended their determination in seeing the match through.

Dan Ballard’s late strike secured a spot at Wembley and a place in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United. Ephron Mason-Clark’s second-half goal brought the tie level and was a deserved outcome for their efforts, with Sunderland finding it hard to assert themselves during regular time.

The arrival of Chris Rigg and Romaine Mundle then helped shift the momentum as Sunderland ended extra time with a much improved display. Ballard then rose highest from an Enzo Le Fee corner to send the Stadium of Light into euphoria.

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Daniel Ballard of Sunderland scores a goal to make it 1-1 during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg match between AFC Sunderland and Coventry City at Stadium of Light on May 13, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

“It was absolutely fantastic,” Le Bris said.

“To score this late in the game, with such an important equaliser, and to win the opportunity to play at Wembley is absolutely fantastic. You play football for these emotions, I think.

“Before that, it was a tough game – Coventry played really good football, I think,” he added.

“They were very strong, especially with the ball. They controlled the game. We were between two attitudes, I think. We wanted to protect our lead because we were 1-0 up after the first leg. We were probably a bit nervous. We have a young team and it is not easy to manage these moments. But we were really well connected. We defended with a strong energy in the team, and we knew that for the last 30 minutes, we had subs to change the dynamic, modify the game and get another shape. We changed the dynamic during the extra-time period.

“The substitutions made a difference. We’ve spoken together before, 4-4-2 gives us strong threats to counterattack but it means you can lose control. It’s always that balance, what you gain and what you lose. To be fair today was more difficult but with Romaine, Riggy, Enzo in the midfield, we knew we could change the dynamic. During this period, we showed another face of Sunderland. The last part, the finishers, they did well.”

Régis Le Bris gives assessment on Dan Ballard’s superb display:

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Dan Ballard of Sunderland scores the winning goal and celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg match between AFC Sunderland and Coventry City at Stadium of Light on May 13, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by IMartin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)

Ballard was Sunderland’s key performer across both legs and received praise from his head coach.

“We needed his physicality in the backline,” Le Bris said.

“We were playing against strong forwards and, in the backline, this kind of player is always very important. Ballard was so good, to control, to dominate in the air, to be strong in the duels and to give confidence to his team-mates. He scored at the end, and that is another quality. If you have this opportunity to score from set-pieces, it can make a difference.”