‘POMPEY FINAL IS EXTRA INCENTIVE’
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin reckons the prospect of a Wembley showdown against Portsmouth gives Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy semi-final at Bristol Rovers an extra edge.
Pompey were the first to book their Wembley ticket with their impressive 3-0 victory at Bury last Tuesday. Now Rovers and Sunderland meet to decide the other finalist – with the Black Cats the favourites to win through.
Heading into the weekend, they were third in League One, while Rovers were 21st and in the relegation zone. Just last weekend, Sunderland won 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium with goals from Luke O’Nien and Aiden McGeady in their League One clash.
Scottish international McLaughlin, who joined the Black Cats from Hearts last summer, isn’t reading too much into that, though.
“It will be in people’s minds a little bit, but the league and cup are different anyway,” said the 31-year-old. “It’s a oneoff occasion and anything can happen.
“It’s not completely irrelevant, but you don’t know, for example, if the teams will be different. We have played different teams up to now in the Checkatrade, but they might view it differently. This is a chance to get to Wembley and it will be a big occasion for both clubs.”
Special
McLaughlin would relish the chance to take on Pompey in the final at Wembley on March 31 – if they can get past Graham Coughlan’s troops.
“It’s a special occasion whatever the competition you are playing in and if we could get a final against Portsmouth it would be one of the biggest Checkatrade finals there’s been.
“It would be two massive clubs and our fans would welcome the chance to play a big final against Portsmouth. It’s an exciting prospect and gives that extra incentive to win the semi-final.”
McLaughlin has already got Wembley experience under his belt. He came on as a substitute for Bradford in the 2012/13 League Cup final against Swansea (the Bantams lost 5-0) and then returned to the home of football three months later to start as Bradford beat Northampton 3-0 to win the League Two play-off final.
He said: “Some players don’t get the opportunity to play there, so I’ve been fortunate and you want to play there as much as you can.
“We got beaten in the League Cup final, but it was an incredible achievement to get there. To go up through the play-offs in the same season was great.”
The former Burton keeper spent a season with Hearts in the Scottish top-flight, but has no regrets about making the move to Sunderland, who had suffered back-to-back relegations, last summer.
Decision
“It’s turned out to be the right decision,” he said. “I enjoyed my football at Hearts and it’s a great club to play for, but I was never going to turn down a club of Sunderland’s size.
“Offers like that don’t come around too often and someone else will take it if you don’t.”
And the Edinburgh-born keeper, who had spells in NonLeague with Harrogate Railway Athletic and Harrogate Town before hitting the big time, is hoping that beating Bristol Rovers in midweek and landing a Wembley berth could improve their promotion prospects.
“When we got to the League Cup final with Bradford, it gave us a shot in the arm,” he added. “We carried the momentum forward and went on a fantastic run. Getting to Wembley can give you that extra edge.
“There’s no hiding from the fact that from the very start of the season everyone has said that promotion is a must. We need to get the club back to at least Championship level – and it needs to happen straightaway. Everything is there to win promotion and that is our goal. It would be a failure if we do anything but.”