Having fans back can give us a Wright boost in play-offs
SKIPPER BAILEY’S JOY AT CROWD’S RETURN
BAILEY Wright believes the return of fans to the Stadium of Light for next weekend’s League One play-off can help carry Sunderland to Wembley.
It is 14 months since Black Cats fans were last able to attend a game at the Stadium of Light, the 2019-20 season suspended in March last year and later curtailed.
While some clubs were allowed to play a handful of games in front of restricted crowds earlier in the season, none of the North East clubs were allowed to do so.
Sunderland face Lincoln City in the play-off semi-finals next week, the first leg played at Sincil Bank on Wednesday and the return on Wearside on Saturday.
The easing of the Covid restrictions means home fans will be present at both games, with attendances restricted to either 10,000 supporters or 25 per cent of capacity - whichever is the lower.
That means just over 3,000 Imps fans will be at Sincil Bank while Sunderland announced yesterday hey had sold the maximum permitted 10,000 tickets for the second leg.
Wright said: “The biggest thing we have all missed this year is fans inside the stadiums.
“That connection with fans happens at all clubs but it is special here and I think everyone is itching to feel it again.
“Getting through this pandemic has been frustrating and there have been some difficult times but it will be good to put some smiles back on the faces of the people who have supported us from their armchairs at home over the last year.
“We feel they are fully behind us and that is a powerful weapon to have when you go into big games like this, knowing you have that backing and support.
“You can hardly call the supporters Sunderland’s secret weapon because everyone knows about their passionate support, but it is definitely one of the powers that the club has.
“It would be great to see Sunderland fans at Wembley for the play-off final but we have
two tough game against Lincoln first and hopefully the supporters can help us get there.”
Centre-back Wright joined Sunderland on loan from Bristol City in January last year and had played just five games for the club - of which only two were home games - when the season ground to a halt.
The Australia international then joined on a permanent basis in the summer but this season has been played entirely behind closed doors up to now.
He added: “I have played in front of fans at the Stadium of Light probably only twice and it was a good pressure - a positive pressure.
“If there is one thing playing football in empty stadiums has taught us it’s that it is c***.
“It is not good to watch on TV, you don’t get the same buzz when you score, you don’t get the same highs when you win, or the lows when you lose. It is just c***.
“It is great to have fans back, even if we cannot have a full stadium yet, because it builds the atmosphere and it is what makes the Stadium of Light special and it is what makes football special.
“Football without fans is nowhere near as good - it is a whole different ball game, if you like.”
That connection with fans happens at all clubs but it is special here and I think everyone is itching to feel it again.