Sunderland

Fallen giants end horror hoodoo in Play-Off win as Premier League return inches closer.

“I fixed the bits we needed to fix. “I’ll be honest with you, the biggest pressure really was from myself. I didn’t want to manage in League One, so I had to get the club out of League One to become a Championship manager again under a lot of scrutiny.

Sunderland secured a place back in the Championship after defeating Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 in the League One playoff final. The Wembley encounter was Adebayo ...

That turned out to be the game as Sunderland went up the other end and killed off any hopes of a fightback. It looked to be an error from Stockdale, though he potentially lost the trajectory of the ball in the sun on a very bright north-west London afternoon. The tempo on both sides of the ball was high, and it was accompanied by some lovely passing moves. The Sunderland support - which had taken over large swathes of the upper and middle tiers in Wycombe’s half of Wembley - roared their men to a ferocious start. The relative size of the two clubs seemed to play into the bookmakers’ odds and countless pre-match predictions, with Wycombe the underdogs. For the Chairboys, it marks the end of an era, with iconic striker Adebayo Akinfenwa making his final appearance from the bench.

Sunderland's Ross Stewart celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Sky Bet Ross Stewart's cool 78th minute finish sealed Sunderland's ...

Alex Pritchard: As a floating presence all over the final third, Pritchard was very dangerous throughout, displaying an immaculate touch and superb passing ability. On the hour mark, Sam Vokes should have equalised for Wycombe from just inside the box when Bailey Wright misjudged a bouncing ball from deep. The brilliant Alex Pritchard put the ball on a plate for Ross Stewart just six yards out, but he headed wide.

Sunderland have won the League One play-offs at the third time of asking, beating Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley to end their four-year spell in England.

The Black Cats have long associated Wembley with heartbreak and had failed at their previous two attempts to get out of the division via the play-offs. The tie also marked the first use of VAR in a League One play-off final, leaving plenty of room for some twists in the play-off tale. Sunderland have won the League One play-offs at the third time of asking, beating Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley to end their four-year spell in England’s third tier.

Alex Neil on Sunderlands hopes after beating Wycombe 2-0 in the League One play-off final: This club shouldnt be where it is, and this is the first step ...

They decided to make a change, which is fine, you accept that it is football, but Alex Neil has to come in and finish the job off. "It is [unthinkable to spend another season in League One]. It became harder and harder every year when they did not go up. "We're a confident group and we had to treat it right. "But there's a lot of hard work that goes into that, to get you into that level. "I said to the lads today, this is your moment in time. He told Sky Sports: "I am absolutely delighted and so proud. But I want to be at Sunderland, be here and take it forward. There's massive scope for us to go, but we need to understand we're going to a new level. You can have all the money in the world, play at high levels, do this, do that," he said. But with a group of players like that, it's not a problem." "I'm buzzing for them, and the fans. "I said to the lads in the team-talk, it was about moments.

Sunderland fans erupted with sheer joy at the full-time whistle. And you listen and watch the reactions in our video from Wembley, as Sunderland triumphed ...

Finally. Sunderland have been promoted to the Sky Bet Championship after breaking both their playoff and Wembley curse in front of 72,000 supporters.

He looked up, continued to drive forward, and then sent a ferocious effort past a questionable Stockdale - sending the West End of Wembley into absolute pure delirium. After their slight spell of pressure, Wycombe did still continue to look a threat, but arguably their best chance was gifted to them on a plate by centre-back, Bailey Wright. Anthony Stewart’s long ball forward was misjudged by the Sunderland defender, and allowed striker Sam Vokes in behind - only for the Wycombe striker to be denied by a magnificent composed save from Anthony Patterson. Yet, this is no ‘typical Sunderland’. This is a team writing their own rules, and after the half-time interval they were forced to see off a period of Chairboys pressure before they could start building again. But, for all of Sunderland’s comfort on the ball, there was always a slight fear in the stands at Wembley of a potential Wycombe comeback. The fightback from Gareth Ainsworth’s side was always to be expected: they held the ball up for large periods of time, but just didn’t have enough to trouble us. Neil made just one change to his starting eleven, with Elliot Embleton replacing Jack Clarke - one that appeared to be a shrewd move right from the start of the action.

Alex Neil's side finally ended their four-season stay in League One after a 2-0 at Wembley against Wycombe Wanderers saw the Black Cats promoted to the ...

Ex-forward Victor Anichebe said: “Get in!! - 5Watch the spine-tingling Sunderland fan reaction at Wembley as Cats win promotion - 4Sunderland 2 Wycombe Wanderers 0 RECAP: Story of the day as Cats are promoted to the Championship after Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart goals at Wembley

Lynden Gooch has delighted Sunderland fans with a social media dig at Wycombe Wanderers following yesterday's League One play-off final at Wembley.

So glad you’ve had that bit of success after all the hard times. So proud of you & the lads today & all season. “You play by our rules.

Niall Quinn believes Sunderland made the right call to appoint Alex Neil rather than Roy Keane. The Black Cats hierarchy came under fire for a two-week ...

The Black Cats head coach is set for talks regarding his future later this week, after signing a rolling contract earlier this season. That two-week period of deliberation saw Sunderland fall away from the chasing pack of automatic promotion before Neil was eventually appointed in February. There can be no questioning the impact Neil has had on the squad, taking them from play-off outsiders to winning promotion back to the Championship. Niall Quinn believes Sunderland made the right call to appoint Alex Neil rather than Roy Keane. The Black Cats hierarchy came under fire for a two-week period which saw a number of reports claim their former boss had turned down a move back to the Stadium of Light.

Phil Smith reports from Trafalgar Square, from Wembley, and everywhere in between on a special weekend for Sunderland and its support...

This has been his club right from the very start and it has been a topsy-turvy road to here. On paper he had been confident in the players he was taking on but this was a sobering dose of reality. The ball breaks and just inside his own half the first touch is perfect. You can see the red of the flares and smell the smoke and feel the anticipation. The very days of our lives. This might well just be our day and this is why. And seemingly at every step of the way, echoes of the past finding a way to chip away at that morale every little bit more. One, just for good measure, adding a *sixth* of the afternoon for his new club, against the one at which he didn’t kick a ball in anger for six months. We have brought our pain and our frustration and our fear that it might never be our day but none of that will leave with us. The wait might ordinarily be agony but it’s ok, now, because so many of us have waited a lifetime for this and we can wait just a moment more. And a year later, doing exactly the same thing again. His eyes are wide and his mouth gapes because how can you take this in.

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Cometh the man, cometh the hour – Alex Neil is not just the manager we've needed for so long, he's the essence of the manager we've wanted. All credit to Alex Neil, my glimmer of hope was that he managed something similar at Norwich, but this is Sunderland and we don't do things the easy way. Wembley is magic, but the trip home after a defeat is one of the worst feelings a fan can experience.

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 ...

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. Stewart could have added another before half-time but was denied by Stockdale, and early in the second half the Scot headed inches wide. 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. 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. Those were just a few of the stand-out players on the day, but the whole team deserves to share the credit. 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.

Hamilton legend Alex Neil is set for discussions with the Sunderland board after earning promotion to the English Championship. The boss from Lanarkshire has had play-off success at Accies and Norwich City, adding the Black Cats to that list with a 2-0 ...

There's massive scope for us to go, but we need to understand we're going to a new level. But I want to be at Sunderland, be here and take it forward. But with a group of players like that, it's not a problem.

McGeady was named on the bench as Alex Neil's Sunderland defeated Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 in London to cement promotion to the Championship.

“I didn’t play but it was good to be a part of it. If it has come to end then so be it. It was good to be a part of it.” McGeady told The Echo.

Alex Neil was clutching a can of Budweiser outside Sunderland's Wembley dressing room and vowed to down several more during the celebration for sealing ...

'There's got to be investment and different facets that make you competitive in the next league. But there's got to be a lot of work. 'I want to be at Sunderland,' he said.

Not long after his Sunderland side had secured promotion, a surprisingly sombre Alex Neil put his beer down on a table and then matter-of-factly declared: ...

The precarious nature of being the Sunderland manager was thought to be the reason why Roy Keane turned it down in January after Lee Johnson became the latest one to be axed. The Sunderland owners also have plenty of thinking to do. Then I will think about the Championship.”

Alex Neil needed just ninety-eight days to deliver for Sunderland what predecessors could not - they are on the way back, finally.

“It was a measure of the man to be as aggressive and do as he did.” If you’re doing a job, you want the tools to do that. He’s not short of self-confidence and that’s a prerequisite if you’re going to be Sunderland manager. KLD had been at Trafalgar Square the night before, too, watching Sunderland fans swimming in the fountains and partying beneath Nelson’s Column. He did it with us from our first meeting and certainly with the players. The same has yet to be said of Neil, who has been unafraid to omit popular players, such as Embleton and Dan Neil, for the greater good. “He wants people’s opinions,” adds the source. He purposely avoided moving his family to the north east. He doesn’t go for PR or spin, it’s just the way he is. There was a sense within the club that Johnson had fallen short tactically, failing to manage games or retain control. “He just cares about the football. Not since 1973, when winning the FA Cup final against Leeds United, had Sunderland fans seen their team win in this corner of north London. Only the privileged among the 45,000 from Wearside could remember anything but anguish here.

The Sunderland winger signed a short-term deal in January but his current deal is set to expire this summer.

On another day that maybe goes in but I'm just pleased to get over the line and get promoted." "He doesn't really give a lot of nonsense he speaks the truth and says it how it is. The long-term aim of the club is of course promotion back to the Premier League but Roberts was keen to play down any talk of back-to-back promotions. I'm sure they'll be proud of us tonight and we can all go home happy, that's the main thing." I think this year especially, even from the crowds at the Stadium of Light. Some years gone bye they've worried about getting to this and bottling it. He's trusted me to play here and I'm grateful to play as well. "I was pleased for everyone, the manager, the club, myself. "I've only been here six months but you can see since the manager has came in, all the players have come in and the ones that are here, it means a lot. "Jack [Clarke] played really well in the semi-final and Embo came in today and scored the goal. He came in and I thought he did really well. "It's up there, it's definitely up there," he said when asked how high the moment ranked in his career. The 25-year-old said he'd wait and see what the next few weeks hold for himself but was full of praise for Alex Neil at the full-time whistle.

Patrick Roberts hopes he can play in the Championship with Sunderland next season and says winning promotion at Wembley is one of the highlights of his ...

“He has an idea tactically what to do and he’s been fantastic. He’s been great.” “It’s been a few times they’ve been here and I’m lucky I’m here to see them get over the line.”

So much emotion, so many memories made and tears of joy shed. A big summer awaits, but for now we need to embrace the feeling and keep the momentum going.

Making the most of it, and keeping that momentum going for our whole club and our whole community is our next big collective challenge. For now, we return to work, college or school today with the knowledge that we did absolutely everything we could to play our part as fans in achieving this promotion. There should be no impediment to him being signed on for the long term - this is the biggest club, the biggest job, the biggest opportunity outside of the Premier League and he is a high quality, highly motivated, and high-level manager. Kristjaan Speakman has been a lot quieter since the appointment of Neil, which is probably for the best. No manager or head coach has been such a good fit for our club since Peter Reid. We have seen a constant churn of figures come and go at the Stadium of light over the last dozen years and none, not even Roy Keane or Sam Allardyce, have had this feeling of someone who simply fits with us. We need to ensure that he is given everything he needs to continue the excellent job he has done since February.

A NORTH East man has spoken of how his son was “absolutely over the moon” when he was surprised with tickets to go and see Sunderland at Wembley…

Let's get back to the Premier League now." The Argentinian added (in English): "Congrats to Sunderland AFC, great to see the club back in the championship. Sunderland fan Sir Tim Rice, the lyricist and author best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tweeted: "So delighted (and relieved) that the Black Cats are on the road back to the top. Wearsiders out of the wilderness. Just what the fans, indeed the entire city of Sunderland, deserve." I can’t wait to get home and celebrate with everyone."