Frank Lampard spoke of his immense pride in his Coventry City players after they were cruelly denied a place in the play-off final at Wembley by a last minute extra-time winner from Sunderland.
The Sky Blues trailed 2-1 on aggregate at the Stadium of Light but dominated the home side and get themselves back on level terms through a cool Ephron Mason-Clark finish midway through the second half. That took the second leg tie into extra-time and just when it looked like the game would be settled in a penalty shootout, up popped Dan Ballard to head home unmarked from a corner to the near post to break Sky Blues hearts.
“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 added: “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.”
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