We know it will be tough but we have the determination to get the job done
CORRY Evans knows his Sunderland side have one game to go before they can celebrate. The Black Cats celebrations at Hillsborough after the semi-final aggregate win were nothing extravagant.
But that’s because the Wearsider’s have been here before. While they may head into the tie as favourites, the red and white faithful know nothing is a given and both sides will be evenly matched.
Wycombe won promotion to the Championship through this exact route just two seasons ago and Gareth Ainsworth’s side still consists of a number of that promotion winning squad.
Sunderland themselves ended their Wembley hoodoo last year, lifting the Papa John’s Trophy aloft, but a squad revamp in the summer means playing under the Wembley arch will be a first for many of Alex Neil’s squad.
Evans will be one of those, he told SAFC.com: “I’ve been a few times recently, I was there last year watching my brother [Jonny Evans] play in the FA Cup final, never played but it’s one I’m excited about and one to tick off the list.
“Promotion was the aim at the start of the year. We didn’t get over the line in terms of automatics so the next best thing is the play-offs. When I was given the captaincy it was my aim to get the club promoted when I joined.
“It would be a great moment for myself to get us promoted. I remember the promotion all those years ago [under Roy Keane].
“I went to a couple of games when I was just a young boy. He [brother Jonny’ will be in the crowd and coming down after training with Leicester, he says he’s going to come down. It’ll be nice to have all the family
there and hopefully it’ll be a memorable day.”
Sunderland came through a tight affair at Hillsborough to secure their place in the final. A 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light was backed up by a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. The Black Cats will have had a 12-day gap between that second leg and the final at Wembley.
“We’re all really looking forward to it,” said Evans. “Training the last couple of days have been really sharp and teeing us up nicely for the weekend.
“Both [the physical and mental break] has been well received. We put a lot of effort into the two legs and it’s nice to get a little break physically and mentally. We had a few bumps, knocks and scrapes but we’re all back in training now ready to go.”
Sunderland had to rely on another late goal to ensure their play-off final berth, something they’ve become accustomed to seeing throughout the campaign. Evans said: “I think personally, I always thought we’d score away there [Hillsborough].
“Even when we went one goal down, we’re always a threat with the attacking players we have on the pitch. Thankfully we managed to do that, albeit 93rd minute but we’ve been used to that, late goals in recent games.
“It’s nothing new, it’s something we’ve done quite regularly in the past few months. Even our celebrations after the game I don’t think it was over the top or anything. We all said when we came in from the pitch at Hillsborough, ‘One more to go’ and that’s been the mentality and mindset within the squad.
“It’s not changed just because we got to Wembley. As I said before we’re all looking forward to it and we’ve got that determination to get the job done.”
“Hopefully [more settled at Wembley] but like cup finals, anything can happen,” Evans added.
“We’ll just have to focus on ourselves and it’s going to be a tough game. Wycombe are there on their own merit ....
“They’re a physical team. Set-pieces are a threat of their game. We watched the game in the hotel, the second-leg against MK Dons and the togetherness they had in that game, staying in and keeping MK Dons at bay, which they’ve got that in abundance. Likewise, we have as well. It’ll be a really tough game but we’re up for it. One more game to go.”