NafisaFrank Lampard expressed his deep pride in his Coventry City squad after they were heartbreakingly denied a spot in the play-off final at Wembley by a last-gasp extra-time goal from Sunderland.
The Sky Blues trailed 2-1 on aggregate at the Stadium of Light but dominated the hosts and brought themselves level with a composed finish from Ephron Mason-Clark midway through the second half.
That forced the second leg into extra-time, and just when it appeared the match would be decided by penalties, Dan Ballard rose unchallenged at the near post to nod in from a corner and shatter Sky Blues’ hopes.
“We came here with absolute bravery to play the way we played,” said the City boss. “They had to concede to us because of the way we played, the way we controlled the game.
“I am a lot older and been around a lot, taken whacks and so I can be a tiny bit more balanced but I feel for the players because they don’t deserve that. But congratulations to Sunderland but we were the better team over the two football matches. That’s absolutely clear and that’s why they will be so happy that they have won that match. They’re going to Wembley but in a football sense, pride. Massive pride.”
He continued: “We took frenetic out of the game after the first five minutes or so and then a lot of it looked like we did at home, and it’s hard to have that control away from home. But the balance of the team, the way we played, getting the ball wide, I can’t ask for any more.
“I am so disappointed for the club, for the players and the fans and then owner and everything. But once the dust settles I cannot be disappointed with the way they played. I work with them every day and they take on information and they are so together, you could see them on the pitch at the end there.
“It’s football. Football.”
Nafisa
