In battle and love, everything is fair. Even its groundskeepers used cunning strategies to support their Championship team’s aspirations of promotion to the Premier League, demonstrating that Sunderland understood this and responded appropriately.
The Sunderland ground crew spent the whole day yesterday relocating their advertising boards at the Stadium of Light by two meters in an effort to give the team every advantage possible before their play-off second leg against Coventry.
Milan van Ewijk is renowned for sending throws into the danger area, and the Sky Blues have more headers and goals from crosses than any other side in the Premier League and EFL this season.
It must have worked in their favor since Sunderland advanced to the Championship play-off final in dramatic fashion after defeating Coventry 3-2 on aggregate thanks to a goal from Dan Ballard in the last seconds of extra time.
Ephron Mason-Clark’s goal late in the second half of the semi-final second leg put Regis Le Bris’ team down.
Ballard, however, headed home in stoppage time to clinch a 1-1 draw and ignite wild celebrations from the more than 46,000 supporters crammed into the Stadium of Light, only seconds away from a penalty shootout.
With one victory against Sunderland this season, United finished third in the regular season, 14 points ahead of the fourth-place squad.
After an eight-year hiatus, which includes a stint in the third division, Sunderland is still attempting to rejoin the Premier League.
However, Le Bris’ team will need to make a big improvement after a tense performance that almost gave Coventry a spot in the final.
