WEAR ON OUR WAY TO WEMBLEY
Roberts haunts Wednesday yet again as Sunderland seal their Final place
Sheff Wed
Sunderland win 2-1 on aggregate
1 Sunderland 1
PATRICK ROBERTS returned to haunt Sheffield Wednesday for the second time in a year and send Sunderland to Wembley.
Roberts struck against Wednesday for Derby on the final day of last season to help condemn them to relegation from the Championship.
And the former Manchester City forward broke their hearts again when he netted the decisive goal after a brave fightback by the home side.
Sunderland remain on course to end their play-off hoodoo at the seventh attempt under specialist Alex Neil, victorious in his two previous attempts with Hamilton and Norwich.
They now play Wycombe
Wanderers at Wembley a week on Saturday.
Defeat was hard on Wednesday, who levelled on aggregate with a well-worked goal before Roberts condemned them to a second season in League One.
There was more graft than craft on display, which was understandable given the high stakes for both of these grand old clubs.
Barry Bannan, exhibiting what little quality there was, played a slide-rule pass to Josh
Windass, whose shot was deflected behind.
Bannan’s deliveries were Wednesday’s chief weapon and George Byers forced a save from Anthony Patterson with an overhead kick when Sunderland failed to clear one of his corners.
The Owls skipper then sent over a free-kick for Harlee Dean to head over.
Home fans screamed for a penalty, first when Windass went down under a challenge from Dennis Cirkin and then for hand-ball against the Sunderland left-back, but referee James Linington was having none of it.
The Wearsiders wrested control from Wednesday in the second half and Jack Clarke dragged a shot wide when he should have hit the target.
The on-loan Tottenham winger then went on a mazy run and teed up Roberts on the right, but his shot was saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Back came Wednesday and Windass’s dangerous cross was bundled behind before Sam Hutchinson connected with a header which was well held by Patterson.
The Owls defender clashed heads and had to go off after a lengthy stoppage.
Time was beginning to run out for Wednesday when Bannan, with the coolest head on the pitch, conjured the opener on 74 minutes.
He played an exquisite ball through to Marvin Johnson on the left and his cross was tucked home by Lee Gregory.
Then, with energy-sapping extra-time looming, Sunderland delivered the killer blow when Clarke teed up Roberts to tuck the ball home.
Roberts said: “I’ve had a few chances lately but what a good time to put one away. We knew it would be tough and we had to dig in. We’re delighted.”