{"id":1385402,"date":"2025-05-24T17:26:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T16:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1385402"},"modified":"2025-05-24T17:27:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T16:27:45","slug":"championship-play-off-final-sheffield-united-sunderland-roberts-watson","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-play-off-final-sheffield-united-sunderland-roberts-watson\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunderland’s super subs send Black Cats back to Premier League"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Substitutes were the key for Sunderland as they came from a goal down to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship Play-off Final.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Black Cats will return to the Premier League<\/a> for the first time since 2016-17. But for so long it had looked like they would fall short once again. And not just in the Final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunderland went into the play-offs winless in their final six regular season games, losing their last five — and scoring just one goal during that run. They turned things around in the semi-finals, beating Coventry City over two legs to book a return to Wembley.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    But Sunderland have had an up-and-down relationship with Wembley in recent years. The Black Cats have won two and lost two of their past four visits to the Home of Football. The past two did come in their most recent visits, winning the 2020-21 EFL Trophy and then the 2021-22 League One Play-off Final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They started the 2024-25 Championship Play-off Final as if they were still in League One. Sunderland were under the cosh from the opening second, and should have been a goal down inside a few minutes. But Kieffer Moore’s good header forced an even better save from Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, denying an effort with a post-shot Expected Goals total of 0.65. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sunderland didn’t react to that early chance conceded, with Sheffield United’s dominance growing. And when Sheffield United went 1-0 up, Sunderland could have no complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The goal came from a Sunderland corner, which Sheffield United dealt with excellently. The ball was cleared and Gustavo Hamer went on the chase. Hamer won his foot race with the defender before playing a brilliant pass across to Tyrese Campbell, who lifted the ball over Patterson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sunderland did react, but only because Sheffield United were happy to let him, hoping to hit the Black Cats on the counter. By the end of the first half, Sunderland had managed two shots, with one tame effort on target. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Seven years after they suffered back-to-back relegations, Sunderland are back in the top-flight.

    \u29be 2017 – Relegated to the Championship
    \u29be 2018 – Relegated to League One\u00a0
    \u29bf 2022 – Promoted to the Championship\u00a0
    \u29bf 2025 – Promoted to the Premier League\u00a0

    Tom Watson's stoppage\u2026     pic.twitter.com\/rLsWc13Aum<\/a><\/p>— Squawka (@Squawka) May 24, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>