Mason-Clark's late show sends battle to the wire

Extra time was required by the River Wear after a second-half goal from Coventry's Ephron Mason-Clark drew Frank Lampard's side level with Sunderland on aggregate.

- Louise Taylor

As Régis Le Bris's careful pre-match plans failed to exert the desired effect, Sheffield United waited to learn the identity of their opponent in the Championship playoff final a week on Saturday.

Le Bris is not a man to neglect homework and, sure enough, his Coventry studies prompted the decision to shift the Stadium of Light's perimeter advertising hoardings forward, moving them two metres closer to the pitch. The idea was to reduce the threat posed by Milan van Ewijk from long throws by restricting the right back's room for manoeuvre.

Throw in reports that, at the end of an unusually warm May Day on Wearside, the remotely controlled heating in the away dressing room had been turned up to the maximum temperature and it was quite the welcome for Lampard's players. As if that was not sufficient Coventry emerged from the tunnel to be greeted by a giant Sunderland fans' banner depicting a black cat with terrifying claws, sharply bared teeth and chillingly ferocious eyes.