Sunderland reached the Championship play-off final after Dan Ballard's last-gasp goal in extra time decided their semi-final tie against Coventry City.

While the Blades had cruised through to Wembley on Monday as they swept aside Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate, this tie always felt in the balance.

After surviving a bright Sunderland start in which Mayenda forced a good save out of Ben Wilson, Lampard watched his side grow into the game.

But they spurned crucial chances as Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scuffed an attempt over from six yards, before in-form midfielder Jack Rudoni prodded their best opportunity of the first half over from a similar distance.

The Sky Blues continued to have more of the ball in the second half, but Sunderland had come closer to scoring the decisive goal when right-back Trai Hume had his volley well kept out by Wilson.

And they were punished when Van Ewijk overlapped down the right and sent over a cross which had Mason-Clark getting there just before Hume to guide the ball into the bottom corner.

Coventry were on top and almost sealed it but Wright, with the very last touch in normal time, got his header badly wrong from another Sakamoto cross.

The Black Cats were better in extra time and regained some composure, and Romaine Mundle was only prevented from scoring by a brilliant block from fellow substitute Josh Eccles.

The match still looked destined to be decided by a penalty shootout, even when Sunderland won a corner with the last action of the game.

And from Enzo Le Fee's delivery in the 122nd minute, Ballard sent the red-and-white hordes into ecstasy with a powerful header as Coventry players slumped to the floor in absolute dejection.

The very essence of play-off football in one instant.

The Black Cats will now face Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday, 24 May to decide who plays in the Premier League next season.

In a meeting between the sides who finished fourth and fifth in the regular season, the Wearside club will have the chance to end an eight-year exile from the top flight.

But the Sky Blues will rue a chance which USA forward Haji Wright headed wide in regulation stoppage time that would have booked their spot in the final.