Sheffield United ‘get their Dan Ballard answer’ after crazy Sunderland scenes
Sheffield United have been linked with a move for Sunderland defender Dan Ballard if they achieve promotion back to the Premier League.
Sunderland are now just 90 minutes away from being a Premier League club for the first time in 2016, with Sheffield United having identical aspirations.
The two sides have booked their spot at Wembley on 24 May, with the kickoff time now confirmed for 3PM GMT.
Sunderland’s 3-2 aggregate victory against Coventry earned them their spot in the final, and they have one man in particular to thank.
Sunderland cannot afford Ballard sale this summer
Since the arrival of Chris Mepham on loan from Bournemouth, Ballard has found gametime very hard to come by on Wearside.
However, in order to contend with the aerial threat posed by the Sky Blues, Regis Le Bris opted to start the Northern Ireland defender, and it’s fair to say that he has been the difference for Sunderland, sparking some of the craziest scenes ever witnessed on Wearside.
| Sunderland v Coventry | Minutes | Goals | Clearances |
| Ballard | 210 | 1 | 39 |
His display at the CBS Arena was phenomenal, and his last-second header at the Stadum of Light sent his side to Wembley, and these two performances have sent a clear message to the Blades; he is not for sale.
These last two performances have been two of the best defensive displays from an individual at Sunderland, and with Sheffield United said to be keen on signing him, the Black Cats need to stand firm.
Le Bris must get Sunderland playing on the front foot at Wembley
As good as Ballard has been in these last two encounters, Sunderland cannot afford to rely on him to win them promotion.
The Black Cats have an abundance of talent going forward, and it is imperative that Le Bris sets his side up at Wembley to win the game.
Sunderland have showcased their ability to beat anyone on their day in the Championship, and there will be no better time to replicate that than in the play-off final in nine days.