Dark years are over as Black Cats see the light
FROM ‘Wise Men Say,’ to ‘We’re on our way.’ As Sunderland’s signature songs boomed around Wembley Stadium at full-time, with 46,500 fans joining in with gusto through tears of joy and relief, it felt like a huge cloud had lifted.
The vast majority had never seen their team win at Wembley, despite multiple visits over the decades since the club’s 1973 FA Cup triumph.
None had seen their team win a play-off final. Until now.
So they deserved to celebrate under the arch and those celebrations continued long into the night back at Trafalgar Square – the traditional London rallying point for Sunderland fans, which had also been packed on the eve of the final.
From their first game following relegation to the third tier against Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light in August 2018 to this weekend’s play-off final, Sunderland had spent 1,387 days in League One darkness.
However, the Black Cats’ victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley provided a glorious ending to what has been the most ignominious chapter in the club’s history.
They have now emerged blinking back into the light and will play Championship football next season.
Head coach Alex Neil has become a totemic figure since his arrival in February for the way he galvanised a squad that had hit the skids and a fanbase that was flirting with open revolt as it looked like promotion was slipping away and the new ownership was not all it had been cracked up to be and delivered first a place in the play-off and ultimately promotion.
The players who sprayed champagne over each other following the trophy presentation have written themselves into the club’s history.
Sunderland created new heroes this weekend in the shape of Wembley goalscorers Ross Stewart and Elliot Embleton, young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, defender Bailey Wright – who played despite suffering from a sickness bug and travelled to
London by helicopter to keep him separate to the rest of the squad – and midfielder Corry Evans while the craft and guile brought by Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts were too much for Wycombe to handle.
Those were just a few of the stand-out players on the day but the whole team deserves to share the credit.
Not only the team but the entire squad because without the contributions of Dan Neil, Nathan Broadhead, Jack Clarke and Callum Doyle – who were on the bench on the day – along with Carl Winchester, who missed out on the final weeks through injury, it would not have been possible.
The play-off final itself could have been a nervy affair given Sunderland’s history and the fact they were coming up against a Wycombe side whose physical style – and set-piece mastery – can be difficult to combat.
Yet the Wearsiders showed they were in the mood from the off and could have scored twice inside the first five minutes.
As it was, they were ahead inside a quarter-of-an-hour when Embleton drove forward through the middle and hit a swerving shot, which deceived goalkeeper David
Stockdale, who could only help it into the net.
Stewart could have added another before half-time but was denied by Stockdale and early in the second half the Scot headed inches wide.
Wycombe’s best chances came from Sunderland errors but when Wright misread the bounce of the ball inside the box to let in Sam Vokes, Patterson made the save.
When a double-ricochet put substitute Brandon Hanlan in on goal, he sent his shot tamely at Patterson.
Even though Sunderland held only a slender lead, they controlled the game for the most part and at no point did they look in danger of losing.
Stewart did eventually get his goal – his 26th of a magnificent season – ten minutes from time, firing low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
In the closing stages, Clarke and Roberts both had chances to add a third but the former was denied by Stockdale and the latter steered his shot narrowly wide – but two goals were enough.
Sunderland are back in the Championship. They are on their way.
PATRICK Roberts insisted he would enjoy the moment after Sunderland secured promotion back to the Championship following a four-year stint in League One – but is unsure where his longer-term future lies.
The Black Cats winger signed a short-term deal with the club in January and has played a key part in their revival since the transfer window closed.
The former Manchester City prospect scored the vital goal in the second-leg of the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday and was a major threat in the final against Wycombe.
The 25-year-old will wait and see what the next few weeks hold for himself but was full of praise for his team-mates and boss Alex Neil after the Wearsiders’ 2-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers.
On his future, he said: “I have no idea to be honest, that is for the next few weeks.
“I will just enjoy this and then see what happens. “
The current group of Sunderland players have enjoyed success where so many others have failed and Roberts believes the club is finally on the right track.
When asked how high the moment ranked in his career, the winger added: “It is up there, it is definitely up there.
“I have won a few trophies up north but at a club like Sunderland, after years of trying to do it, we are back in the direction everyone wants to be in.
“I have only been here six months but you can see since the manager has come in all the players have come in and the ones who are here, it means a lot.
“At the start of the season we had a rocky period with everything going on but we have steadied ourselves, claimed the wins and results and we can enjoy this and the summer.”
Roberts went on: “We knew it would be a tough game. We knew we had the quality and I think they were a bit nervous straight off.
“We kind of got into our rhythm first-half, Elliot Embleton scoring the goal was a big help.
“They put some pressure on us but we kept at it.
“We knew they would come and try and launch it and be direct but we just needed one chance to see the game off and when you have a striker like Ross Stewart he is the man you want it to go to.
“The gaffer at half time thought we were doing really well.
“We had them really penned in and they didn’t really give us much.
“Jack Clarke played really well in the semi-final and Embo came in today and scored the goal.
“It is the kind of squad we have, it is good to have and it is good for morale, good for competition.
“I was pleased for everyone, the manager, the club, myself. He has trusted in me to play here and I was grateful to play as well. I am just happy we got it done today.”