He praised his teammates for their focused performance, saying they had been preparing for this game for six weeks. Ballard acknowledged that the team's ability to match West Ham's pace and quality was key to their success.

Ballard also expressed his own satisfaction with his goal, which came from a well-worked move in the second phase of attack. He had been practicing his finishing technique in recent days and was pleased to see the improvement pay off.

The game was a significant win for Sunderland, and Ballard was proud to have played a part in it. His goal was a highlight of the match, and he felt grateful for the opportunity to score.