WEMBLEY EXPERIENCE IN OUR FAVOUR
INSIDE: HONEYMAN HINTS AT SUCCESS TO COME
Luke O’Nien believes playing at Wembley earlier this season can help him produce a big performance against Charlton Athletic this Sunday.
Addicks boss Lee Bowyer said on Friday night that he felt Sunderland’s narrow defeat to Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Final would give them a slight advantage next weekend.
Speaking before Charlton’s play-off semi-final win over Doncaster Rovers, O’Nien admitted that the experience could work in his favour.
“It will be special, but we’re not going there just to enjoy it, we’re going there to win it,” O’Nien said.
“Hopefully, we can go one better this time.
“I think we can take a lot of experience from being at Wembley.
“It’s something that we’ve got on our side. If you haven’t been there before, you try to enjoy it, but you learn a lot from the emotion of the whole occasion, let alone playing there.
“I think having been there already this season is going to be an advantage to us, but it’s a cup final and anything can happen.
“You’re going into a game against a team you’ve already played twice this season, so may the best team win.
“I had a few little nerves when I first went to Wembley because it’s somewhere where I always wanted to play, so hopefully I can use that.
“Nerves are a good thing – they show you’re ready for it and excited.
“Hopefully, I can use that in the right way and hopefully we can do a good job there.”
O’Nien has gone on a remarkable journey since the two sides met on the opening day of the season, when the midfielder was subbed off at half time as Jack Ross turned the game around.
His appearances after that were rarely regular but in the second half of the season he has established himself as an absolutely vital player at right-back. Charlton will pose a major challenge but the 24-year-old is hoping to sign off an encouraging campaign with promotion.
“It’s been a special season,” he said. “A lot of people have looked after me here andhelpedmedevelop.When I step out on that pitch, I make sure I give it my all because a lot of people have helped me get to this stage.
“I’ve enjoyed it, and to top it off with a win would just make it the perfect season.
“The gaffer and his staff always speak to me and tell me what I need to do to improve, and that’s what I want.
“We’ll be looking back over the footage of the last game, seeing where we can improve, and then we’ll look forward to the final.”
* Sunderland and Charlton are set to do battle in the League One play-off final and the bookmakers have revealed their favourites.
The Black Cats and the Addicks battled past Port
“I think having been there already is going to be an advantage.” LUKE O’NIEN
3 Charlton finished third, three points ahead of Sunderland
smouth and Doncaster Rovers respectively to seal their place at Wembley on Sunday, May 26.
The bookmakers have now offered their take on who will seal promotion to the Championship.
Charlton were the early favourites for the play-offs, having ended the regular season in a rich vein of form.
But the bookmakers are backing Sunderland to seal victory next weekend, having installed the Black Cats as 4/5 favourites.
Charlton, however, are priced at 10/11 - meaning the bookies are expecting a closely-fought contest.