How Wilson Isidor nearly ruined his Wembley dream vs Coventry City, Sunderland fans will be relieved

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Sunderland supporters will be on a huge high from Monday evening as they booked their place in the Championship play-off final in dramatic circumstances.

Ephron Mason-Clark had scored late on for Coventry City to take the game to extra-time at the Stadium of Light, with the tie level at 2-2. With penalties looking a certainty, Dan Ballard headed home superbly in the 123rd-minute to send his team to Wembley.

The Black Cats will meet Sheffield United in the final, as they eased past Bristol City in a 6-0 aggregate victory, and Regis Le Bris knows his team have to be better if they are to get past a very strong Blades side.

Nevertheless, his decision over who is going to be playing up front on May 24 could have been severely influenced in the moment after Ballard’s goal, as the Stadium of Light went into a state of chaos.

Sunderland ace Wilson Isidor nearly found himself suspended for the visit to Wembley

Nearly everyone in red-and-white found it tough to contain their emotions as the ball cannoned off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net on Monday, including Wilson Isidor.

The Sunderland striker had been substituted off in the final 10 minutes of normal time for Chris Rigg, and was forced to watch on from the bench.

However, when he saw Ballard send the Black Cats through to the Championship play-off final he ran onto the pitch to celebrate, mocking Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson in the process.

This should have resulted in a yellow card for the French striker, and after he picked one up just 12 minutes into the game, it would have seen him sent off and missing ahead of the final at Wembley, much to the disappointment of Sunderland.

Wilson Isidor will be a threat to Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final

After Sunderland’s poor run of form in the run-in, the victory at the CBS Arena was exactly what Le Bris needed to help give his team confidence for the second leg.

For Isidor himself, that first game was vitally important as he finally ended his goal drought. The 24-year-old had not found the back of the net since February 17 against Leeds United at Elland Road, but he finished with aplomb to hand his side the lead in the West Midlands.

He is a player that seems to rely on confidence after an excellent start to the campaign, and if he can maintain his fitness in the next week, Sheffield United will find it tough to contain him.

Nevertheless, he will probably acknowledge his luck in not receiving that yellow card, as Sunderland prepare for their biggest game in years.