Richard Keys reacts to crazy Sunderland win as Coventry fan sends ‘Magnificent’ message
Richard Keys was blown away by the spectacle at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night as Sunderland booked their spot in the play-off final at Wembley.
Sunderland were just seconds away from a dreaded penalty shootout before Dan Ballard sparked some of the craziest scenes the Stadium of Light has ever witnessed with a 122nd-minute equaliser against Coventry City.
The Black Cats now find themselves just 90 minutes away from a Premier League return; the closest they have been to achieving it since their relegation in 2016.
With that said, Keys gave his immediate reaction to the game, sharing a message with Coventry City after the defeat.
Sunderland secure dramatic play-off win v Coventry
Everyone on Wearside was aware that Tuesday’s clash with the Sky Blues was going to be a difficult one, though not many could have even dreamt about the scenes that ensued at the Stadium of Light.
Ballard, who was immense in the first leg for Sunderland, saw his header crash off the underside of the crossbar in the final second of the game, sparking delirium among 46,000 supporters on Wearside.
| First leg | Second leg |
| Coventry 1-2 Sunderland | Sunderland 1-1 Coventry |
The noise was nothing short of remarkable, and Keys gave his reaction to the win after some time of reflection, given that his own side were on the losing end.
Writing via X, he said: “What a great league the Championship is, raw, pure & exciting. The numbers watching tell you that. Congrats to Sunderland on their success against Coventry City. Our boys did us proud – so did our magnificent fans. Good luck to both teams in the final.”
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Celebrations on Wearside will last a few days, and many will still be feeling it today, but for those behind the scenes, planning will already be underway ahead of the play-off final at Wembley.
Sheffield United await them after their 6-0 aggregate win against Bristol City, but it is unlikely that the Black Cats will be moved, given the performances against them this season.
The two sides both have one win to their name, though the only one that truly matters is the next one, with a huge opportunity for Sunderland now just 10 days away.