Luke O’Nien classy tweet towards Coventry City players as Sunderland reach play-off final
Sunderland lifted the roof off the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night after booking their place in the Championship play-off final.
After Sunderland beat Coventry City 2-1 in the first leg, Frank Lampard’s men were eyeing history in the second, aiming to become the first side to beat the Black Cats on their own turf in a play-off tie.
Coventry sparked scenes of jubilation from the away end after Ephron Mason-Clark gave the visitors the lead on the night while levelling the score on aggregate.
The Sky Blues ultimately had to settle for extra time after chasing a winner, though, and just as penalties beckoned, Dan Ballard’s last-minute header created a deafening noise inside the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland have reached the Championship play-off final, where they will meet Sheffield United, and centre-back Luke O’Nien did something classy at full-time.
Luke O’Nien shakes the hands of Coventry City players at full-time
Regis Le Bris admitted Sunderland’s performance was ‘frustrating’ on the night, claiming his side were too ‘nervous’ in the first half of the game.
The Frenchman needed his more experienced players to hold it together, and someone who falls into that category is stalwart O’Nien.
A leader at the heart of the Sunderland defence alongside Ballard, the 30-year-old epitomises everything good about the football club, including the fight and desire to never give in.
On Tuesday, he was a colossus once more, winning six of his seven contested duels while making a whopping 11 clearances.
It was a performance of someone who was determined to drag his side towards Wembley by putting his body on the line for the team and commanding his back line with instructions.
BBC Sport reporter Adam Lanigan even pointed out that O’Nien shook the hands of all the dejected Coventry players while the rest of his side were celebrating at full-time.
The Englishman showed his class in that one moment, and supporters will be thankful he represents the football club.
O’Nien is ‘lost for words’ as Sunderland reach Wembley
O’Nien’s importance to Le Bris can’t be overstated, as the defender only missed one Championship game in the regular season.
Although not the biggest or strongest centre-back, he knows how to position himself and he will be crucial in the play-off final up against the likes of Kieffer Moore and Gustavo Hamer.
Speaking after reaching Wembley, O’Nien told Sky Sports: “I’m lost for words. I’m just looking around at what this man’s [Dan Ballard] done for this city. It’s incredible.
“It’s a credit to Coventry. It’s a tough one to take. I think it was a hell of a tie, so credit to them and their fans. I’ve been on the receiving end of a loss in the semis, and it was a tough one, but I really enjoyed the game, they’re tough opponents and they’ll come good.”
Sunderland meet Sheffield United on Saturday, May 24, and with a place in the Premier League at stake, O’Nien will be desperate to reach the promised land.
