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Dan Neil admitted Sunderland’s triumph over Coventry City in the Championship play-off semi-final “means the absolute world to me.” The 23-year-old put in another lung-busting display to
help the Black Cats reach Wembley. And having been born and bred in Hebburn, he knows exactly what effect this victory and a trip to Wembley will have on the community while hopes have been
raised for a return to the Premier League. Speaking to Sky Sports Neil said: “You have dreams growing up of playing in games of this magnitude. It means so much to the people and the players
and it means so much to my family and everybody associated with this club. To come out on the right end, well, words can’t describe it.” He added: “I think the crowd has played a massive
part and the belief we have in each other as team-mates. We had a game-plan for both legs and we stuck to it to a tee. "When they scored with 15 minutes to go we could have easily
folded but I think you then saw the character of the boys. To stand up and be counted and keep fighting. That is what makes it so special.” The game looked to be heading to penalties when
Dan Ballard produced a brilliant header in the 122nd minute to send the Stadium of Light into ecstasy. Neil had been pulled back into defence when the corner was being taken, and revealed he
had said a couple of words to himself in hope and prayer. When asked how Ballard managed to guide his header in off the bar he added: “I have no idea but he has been outstanding over the
two legs. I was standing on the halfway line thinking ‘please Dan, please Dan’. And thankfully, when I saw it go on to his head I thought 'yes, he’s got it.' Sunderland did not
have control of the game at any stage until they suddenly came alive in the second period of extra-time. Neil explained: “I said, the crowd were excellent. We felt we could have played
better stuff at times in possession. It was a case of grabbing the bull by the horns in the last 15 minutes and with the home crowd behind us we went on the front foot and created a few
chances. "Romaine Mundle had an unbelievable chance at the end. But we kept pushing and that happened.” Ballard’s goal spared the fans from a penalty shootout but Neil has warned that
no one can get carried away, though he knows the players and fans will enjoy the moment. He added: “We will celebrate. But our ambition was to get promoted at the start of the year so maybe
we got a bit carried away with the last-minute goal but we can recover and we have one more to go. “These occasions don’t come around very often so you have to enjoy them. Then we will all
be back in with one goal in mind and that’s to go to Wembley and put on a performance.”