That’s all for our coverage of a dramatic Championship playoff final, one that was settled by a teenager’s last kick for his local club. Thanks for your company and emails, goodnight!
Aberdeen win Scottish Cup
A season of famous upsets has another: Aberdeen have beaten Celtic on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Cup final. They scored all four of their penalties; Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston missed for Celtic, whose domestic treble has gone up in smoke.
It’s the first time Aberdeen have won the Scottish Cup since… they beat Celtic on penalties in 1990.
Jobe Bellingham’s verdict
It means everything. I take a lot of pride in being one of the players who helped this great club get back to where it belongs.
I always believed [even at 1-0 down]. You have to believe. When you’ve got supporters like this [how can you not believe]?
All the ex-pros on Sky say we’re inexperienced, but we’ve proved that doesn’t matter. You get experience by failing and in the end we’ve come good. I’m really proud.
Regis Le Bris's reaction
It was a weird game. We didn’t start well, maybe a bit nervous; we knew they could be clinical and they were. This game represents the way we played this season – with resilience, with discipline, and we have talented players so we could score. Amazing.
[On the influence of the substitutes Tom Watson and Patrick Roberts] We needed to change something and we had very good options on the bench. We tried a few things and eventually the players found the solution. Sometimes you have to wait 5-10 minutes to see if the change works. But in the end it was a good decision!
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Still want more? Course you do.
Ben Fisher’s report has landed
Sunderland’s players go up to collect their medals, joy written all over their faces. Eventually Dan Neil, with a bit of help from Luke O’Nien and Regis Le Bris, lifts the playoff trophy to the heavens in triumph.
Sunderland, who went into the playoffs on the back of five straight defeats, have beaten Coventry and Sheffield United with injury-time goals that their supporters will talk about forever. And right now, in the moment of glory, nobody is using a pound sign.
Luke O’Nien, who dislocated his shoulder after 70 seconds, is speaking to Sky Sports
I don’t know why the hell you guys are interviewing me! Mind you it’s probably my best game in a Sunderland shirt since I joined the club. I’m so proud of these boys, so proud. I can’t really believe what I’ve just seen.
[On watching from the sidelines] I’ve never had anxiety like it. The gaffer said if we got one goal, the next would follow. [Turns to look at the crowd] OH MY WORD!
[You’ve made yourself a Sunderland legend] I haven’t, those boys have. Tommy Watson, Sunderland legend. Those boys over there, Sunderland legends. I’m just delighted to play a part in this happiness. I did nothing! I didn’t even play a part! I covered more distance celebrating the goals that I did on the field today.
A word too for the Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson, who made a crucial save shortly before the equaliser and a genuinely amazing save after 70 seconds.
Tom Watson's reaction
I can’t put it into words. Just look around, it’s fucki- it’s unbelievable.
[On his goal being a leaving present for Sunderland] We’ll see each other in the Premier League next year, in the big time.
[Did you see an opportunity to be the hero?] 100 per cent. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks. I think the story was written when I came off the bench. I couldn’t have pictured it any better.
[On his goal] I got closed down so I used the defender (smiles sheepishly) and it went in the bottom corner.
Chris Wilder, who must be utterly devastated after yet another playoff defeat for Sheffield United, shakes Regis Le Bris’s hand, says “well done” and gets the hell out of dodge. For the next hour, Wembley belongs exclusively to Sunderland, who are back in the Premier League after eight years in the EFL.
They were second best for 75 minutes, arguably third best, but Le Bris’s substitutions worked a treat. Tom Watson and Patrick Roberts played vital parts in a belting equaliser from Eliezer Mayenda. It was anyone’s game after that, and the teenager Watson settled it with a delightful injury-time goal. He is off to Brighton in the summer; apparently that was his last kick for the club.
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SUNDERLAND ARE BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
Full time: Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland The Tyne-Wear derby is back, baby! Sunderland will play Newcastle and all the other big teams in the Premier League next season after a stunning turnaround at Wembley.
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90+11 min Le Fee wins a free-kick and celebrates wildly. Sunderland are seconds away from a victory that will go into club folklore, whatever happens next season.
90+10 min “Are you making this up or something ?” says Jeremy Boyce. “Tom Watson was the name of Sunderland AFC’s first official manager, back in the 1890s...”
Yeah I know, it’s him. The quality of the DeLoreans is through the roof these days.
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90+8 min Cirkin fouls somebody and is booked. Sheffield United have brought Femi Seriki on for somebody. I don’t know.
What must Chris Wilder be thinking? His team have won 30 matches this season across the league season and the playoffs, and as things stand they won’t be promoted.
90+8 min Sunderland bring on Leo Hjelde for Eliezer Mayenda.
The teenager Tom Watson, playing his last game for Sunderland before a move to Brighton, has scored a superb goal! Kieffer Moore’s poor layoff went straight to Watson, 35 yards from goal. He scooted to the edge of the D, used Vinicius Souza as a screen and curved a nonchalant low pass into the bottom corner! There wasn’t much pace on the shot but it could not have been more precise and Cooper couldn’t get there. Wow.
GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-2 Sunderland (Watson 90+5)
Scenes upon scenes at Wembley!
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90+4 min Play resumes after a delay of three minutes, which means around 10 of added time in total.
90+4 min Ahmedhodzic came off worst and is being checked by the physio. He looks okay.
90+2 min Another break in play because of a clash of heads between two Sheffield United players, Cannon and Ahmedhodzic I think.
90+1 min: Double substitution for Sheffield United Tom Davies and Tom Cannon replace Ben Brereton Diaz and Sydie Peck.
There will be seven minutes of added nail-chewing.
90 min That fall has ended Brereton Diaz’s afternoon. Hume’s challenge was fair, under the laws of the game, but he knew what he was doing and that sort of tackle will probably be outlawed in the next few years. Rightly or wrongly, I’ve no idea.
88 min “I didn’t realise Joachim was the youngest scorer!” says Graham Randall. “His goal in the semi final was brilliant. Notable because the game was played in Nottingham.”
Not as good as the goal at Barnsley! I thought he was going to be a superstar. Some very fine journalists, including Paddy Barclay from memory, compared him in style to Romario. You can see why with the goal against Portsmouth that you mentioned – he was, to use Rob Hughes’ lovely description of Romario, “like a lizard between rocks”.
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86 min Hume wipes out Brereton Diaz with a lusty ball-and-man challenge. Brereton Diaz lands awkwardly and needs treatment.
85 min Roberts, whose substitution has helped change this game, is cynically pulled back by Brereton Diaz. Yellow card.
83 min “You know when someone wins a car on the telly and they immediately sell it and take the money?” says Niall Mullen. “Could you do that with the playoffs? We’ll take the £100m and the playoff trophy but you can keep your promotion.”
82 min Hume makes a vital defensive header at the far post, with Brereton Diaz waiting behind him to (probably) score.
All bets are off now.
81 min The ball has gone flat, which means a few seconds’ respite for United while a new one is thrown onto the field.
80 min Bellingham, 25 yards out, drills a heatseeker that goes not far over the bar. Maurice Mentum is up to his old tricks once again; Sunderland are suddenly all over United.
78 min Luke O’Nien, his shoulder back in place, was front and centre in the Sunderland celebrations. Quite right too.
At 20 years 16 days, Mayenda is the second youngest scorer in a Championship/second-tier playoff final after Julian Joachim in 1993.
Watson and Le Fee combined purposefully in midfield to find Roberts, who wandered a long way infield from the right to get involved. He slipped a gorgeous angled pass towards Mayenda, haring into space to his right. Mayenda cushioned the ball on the run and slammed it high into the net past Cooper. That’s a fine goal.
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-1 Sunderland (Mayenda 76)
And just like that, Sunderland are level with a terrific goal!
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75 min Moore is about to shoot from 20 yards when Bellingham picks his pocket. Sunderland started the second half well but right now United look the likelier scorers.
73 min: Double substitution for Sunderland Tom Watson and Wilson Isidor come on for the captain Dan Neil and Romaine Mundle.
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72 min: Sheff Utd Ben Brereton Diaz replaces Gus Hamer, who made Tyrese Campbell’s goal and has been the best attacking player on the pitch by a mile. He’s such a lovely footballer.
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71 min Gus Hamer needs to come off. I’m not sure what happened but he’s limping off the field very slowly.
Vital save by Patterson!
69 min Cirkin dithers over a bouncing ball and is muscled aside by Brooks. He moves into the area and sweeps a shot from 15 yards that Patterson saves crucially with his legs. He’d already dived the other way – Brooks gave him the eyes – but was able to keep it out nonetheless.
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68 min Mundle pulls back VInicius Siuza and is booked for tactical foulery.
67 min A promising low cross from Cirkin is turned behind for a corner by Vinicius Souza. Sunderland are 6-1 up on that score.
Alas, most of the corners have been crap and this is no exception. It’s cleared at the near post and looped back onto the roof of the net by Roberts. Cooper had it covered.
65 min: Double substitution for Sheffield United Callum O’Hare and Andre Brooks replace Rhian Brewster and Tyrese Campbell, whose immaculate finish separates the sides.
64 min Sheffield United are having a decent spell of possession, sparked inevitably by Gus Hamer. He’s played some fine passes today, none better than for the goal.
63 min “Having no dog in the fight, I have to find a different way to choose who to support,” says Matt Dony. “Chris Mepham for Sunderland, or Kieffer Moore and Adam Davies for Sheffield United. It’s a simple question of maths, I guess. Up the Blades!”
Sunderland do have Harrison Jones on the bench, though I think he was born in York.
62 min Robinson’s long throw is claimed well under pressure by Patterson. He’s been nigh-on flawless so far.
59 min The first yellow card goes to Brewster for an inept lunge at Mundle.
58 min: Sunderland substitution Patrick Roberts replace 17-year-old Chris Rigg on the right wing.
57 min Le Fee, hitherto quiet, surges into the area and whacks a right-foot shot that is well blocked by Robinson.
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56 min No shots on target at either end in the second half but Sheffield United’s defenders are closer to the seat of their pants than they were in the first half. It’s a much better game now.
53 min More pressure from Sunderland, sparked by a run and deflected cross from Mundle. But then Sheffield United break two on two and Sunderland are suddenly in trouble.
Moore’s shot is superbly blocked and deflects to Brewster, arriving on the scene in support. His touch is heavy and Rigg flies into a desperate but important tackle. He had to get that right in his own penalty area.
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51 min Sunderland have started the second half with greater intensity. Mundle looks especially lively, though as I type that he wafts the ball high and wide from distance.
47 min Mundle finds the underlapping Cirkin, who wins an early corner for Sunderland. It’s taken short and wasted when Rigg’s cross goes out of play.
46 min Sunderland get the second half under way. No substitutions yet.
Half-time reading
Half time: Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
Sheffield United are one step closer to promotion after a quietly dominant first half at Wembley. Tyrese Campbell’s lovely counter-attacking goal separates the sides and United have carried the greater threat despite having less of the ball.
Anthony Patterson made an astounding save in the second minute to deny Kieffer Moore, with Sunderland defender Luke O’Nien disclocating his shoulder in the same incident. Harrison Burrows then had a goal disallowed for offside after a VAR intervention.
At the other end, Sunderland’s only real chance was headed over by Eliezer Mayenda. Neat and tidy though they are in possession, Sunderland have been all hat and no cattle.
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45+7 min More urgency from Sunderland as half-time approaches. But Sheffield United continue to keep them at arm’s length without too much difficulty. The Sky commentators think we may see Wilson Isidor at the start of the second half.
45+4 min Excellent defending from Robinson, who steps across to take Mundle’s low cross of the toe of Mayenda near the penalty spot. A split-second later and Mayenda would have got a shot in.
45 min O’Nien’s injury and the VAR check mean there will be eight minutes of added time.
44 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “One game in Scotland today, the East of Scotland cup final between Downfield and Coupar Angus Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Aberdeen. Aberdeen playing the Sunderland role at Hampden, having finished 39 points behind Celtic in the league. Nearly half a hour gone, and no goals yet. But that was also the case when these two teams met in the Scottish League Cup semi-final earlier in the season, and that ended 6-0 to Celtic. So I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I was an Aberdeen fan.”
Especially now they’ve gone 1-0 down.
42 min After another dangerous break from United, Moore overhits an outside-of-the-boot cross towards Campbell. Even without the ball, they have the game under control right now. They look a lot more streetwise than Sunderland.
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40 min Sunderland have had 60 per cent of the possession. They’ve struggled to create chances, though, with only Muyenda’s header coming to mind. Sheffield United look the more threatening team.
NO GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland
37 min Yep, the goal is ruled out. Chris Kavanagh announces the decision to the crowd, a needless humiliation for him, but it was a fair call.
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36 min: Chris Kavanagh is going to the monitor! That means the player, Vini Souza I think, was in an offside position, so it’s a subjective decision for the referee.
Harrison Burrows has now scored two and made three in the playoffs alone. Hamer’s corner was headed away to the edge of the D, where Burrows struck a half-volley that bobbled through the crowd and past the unsighted Patterson.
There was a player right next to Patterson but he may have been played onside by Bellingham. VAR check incoming.
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 2-0 Sunderland (Burrows 34)
Sunderland have gone 2-0 down!
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32 min Sunderland are having more of the ball now, which doesn’t necessarily suit them. But they’ve played pretty well since that torrid start and are still well in this game. They can’t afford to go 2-0 down though.
29 min Sky Sports have confirmed that Luke O’Nien did suffer a dislocated shoulder in that early challenge with Kieffer Moore.
27 min: Chance for Sunderland Hume’s dangerous cross is headed high over the bar by Muyenda, eight yards out. That’s a pretty good chance.
26 min “What a pass!” says Joe Pearson.
That it was. Eye-of-a-needle stuff.
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Hume’s cross was headed away and Sheffield United broke devastatingly. Hamer ran 50 yards down the inside-left channel and poked a superb square pass through the legs of Neil towards Campbell, who had charged beyond the Sunderland defence. Campbell controlled the ball on the run and dinked it gently over the outrushing Patterson with his left foot.
That’s a brilliant goal, finished beautifully by a player who has had the toughest season of his life after the death of his father Kevin.
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-0 Sunderland (Campbell 25)
A Sunderland corner leads to the opening goal – at the other end!
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21 min Still nothing much happening. Both teams are working hard but for now they look weighed down by the importance of the game.
18 min Mundle runs at Choudhury to win the first corner of the game for Sunderland. It’s curled in and claimed with authority by Cooper.
17 min Nothing to report in the last six or seven minutes. Sheffield United continue to make the running but it’s a more two-sided game now.
14 min Sunderland are starting to settle and enjoy as bit of possession. Every touch will make them feel slightly more comfortable.
13 min “Given that Luke O’Nien started his Sunderland career as a right-sided midfielder, and now plays centre back,” begins Lucy Perez, “is it fair to say that Chris Rigg is playing as a false O’Nien today?”
I thought that was Chris Mepham?
11 min A bit of zest in midfield, with three or four lusty tackles before Chris Kavanagh gives Sheffield United a free-kick.
8 min Sheffield United are all over Sunderland. A cross is headed away to the edge of the area, where Hamer sweet-spots a volley that is blocked by an outrushing defender.
7 min: Sunderland substitution Chris Mepham replaces poor Luke O’Nien.
O'Nien forced off after six minutes
6 min A stretcher has been brought on and O’Nien’s afternoon is over. That’s desperately sad. He’s eventually able to walk off, with assistance and while receiving oxygen, but he’s grimacing with every movement. It looks like a serious injury to his right shoulder.
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4 min O’Nien hurt his shoulder while trying to challenge Moore for that header. He’s receiving treatment and doesn’t look in a good way.
Amazing save by Patterson!
2 min Sheffield United almost take the lead after 70 seconds. A nervous ball out of defence goes straight to Hamer, who drives an early cross towards Moore at the far post. He powers a downward header from eight yards that is somehow clawed out by the sprawling Patterson. What a save!
The ball was behind Patterson, almost behind the line. It’s not quite as good as Jim Montgomery’s astonishing save in 1973, but it’s not far off. Honestly, that was remarkable goalkeeping, especially so early in the game.
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1 min Peeeeep peeeeeeeeeep! The Championship playoff final is under way.
Here come the players. These players.
Sheffield United (4-4-2) Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Brewster, Peck, Vinicius Souza, Hamer; Moore, Campbell.
Substitutes: A Davies, McCallum, Holding, O’Hare, Brereton Diaz,
T Davies, Cannon, Brooks, Seriki.
Sunderland (4-2-3-1) Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Rigg, Le Fee, Mundle; Mayenda.
Substitutes: Moore, Browne, Roberts, Isidor, Abdul Samed, Mepham, Hjelde, Watson, Jones.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
“Busy day of sport today, including the footie obviously,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “I will be trying to ‘Man Who Fell To Earth’ navigate my way through the entertainment on various devices, as I don’t actually possess a wall of TVs.
“Starting with that BIG day out at Wemberleee for two clubs whose history goes back over 120 years, to the late 19th century when that there footie started to get itself properly organised. Six league titles (Sunderland) and four FA Cups (Sheff U) sounds like a decent haul, but they have both been living on thin rations for far too long: Sunderland’s FA Cup in 1973 is the only major trophy for either side in almost 100 years. Which means today’s outcome is the only prize either of them have a realistic chance of winning in possibly the next hundred too.
“It’s amazing that so much can ride on finishing third, but that’s modern footie for you. What on earth would Tom Watson and JB Wostinholm make of it all?”
Louise Taylor’s preview
For far too long playoffs have felt impossibly high altitude for a Sheffield United side who have never won promotion this way, losing four finals. Wilder has addressed theproblem by reminding his players that the Wembley air is really not all that thin and maintaining that history is bunk.
His hopes of avoiding another demoralising repetition of the past should be enhanced by Gustavo Hamer’s presence. Two years ago the Brazil-born attacking midfielder scored for Coventry against Luton at Wembley and, as the Championship player of the season, he possesses the confidence and class to alter the Blades’ playoff story.
What’s trigonometry got to do with it?
Louise Taylor answers that question, and four others, in her Pass Notes-style piece on Sunderland.
During Le Bris’s teenage years in the western Breton village of Pont-l’Abbé, he devoted his spare time to completing an in-depth analysis of Arsène Wenger’s tactics as Monaco’s manager. As an adult, he spent holidays touring clubs across Spain and England – Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Everton and Leeds included – to watch their coaches. “He’s not someone who shouts at you,” the Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor says, “but he makes you understand things really, really thoroughly.” The winger Patrick Roberts agrees. “He’s efficient,” he says. “He’s brought us new ideas and he’s capable of changing our play depending on the opponent. He’s modern.”
Regis Le Bris speaks to Sky Sports
[On his team selection] We have a full squad, probably for the first time this season, so we have multiple options at the start and then from the bench.
I think the players are ready and I hope we’ll have the best version of Sunderland because we deserve to play our best football here today. We’ll see.
From the archive
Chris Wilder talks to Sky Sports
Yeah, we’re ready. I’ve been delighted with everything – the preparation, the detail, the focus of the players. They’re excited, of course, but you’ve got to control your emotions. And we come to win.
I’ve known [the XI] for quite a while. The other players have given me some big issues, even in terms of filling the bench. I think it will be a day where substitutes will have to make an impact.
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Team news
Both managers make two changes from the semi-final second leg. Sheffield United bring in Rhian Brewster, so impressive in the first leg against Bristol City, and Tyrese Campbell in place of Andre Brooks and Tom Cannon.
Chris Rigg, 17, and Romaine Mundle start for Sunderland instead of Wilson Isidor and Patrick Roberts.
Sheffield United (4-4-2) Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Brewster, Peck, Vinicius Souza, Hamer; Moore, Campbell.
Substitutes: A Davies, McCallum, Holding, O’Hare, Brereton Diaz,
T Davies, Cannon, Brooks, Seriki.
Sunderland (4-2-3-1) Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O’Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Rigg, Le Fee, Mundle; Mayenda.
Substitutes: Moore, Browne, Roberts, Isidor, Abdul Samed, Mepham, Hjelde, Watson, Jones.
Referee Chris Kavanagh.
The kick-off time of 3.01pm is a nod to the Every Minute Matters campaign, which encourages people to leave CPR and potentially save somebody’s life.
Sheffield United have yo-yoed between the Premier League and the Championship in recent years. It’s been eight years since Sunderland last played in the Premier League, the longest spell outside the top flight in their history.
Scott Murray is such a brilliant writer that he could make traffic entertaining. Here he is on the origin story of the playoffs, and it starts way before 1987.
The problem inherent in this scheme revealed itself during the 1898 Tests, and in some style. The play-off mini-league saw First Division failures Blackburn Rovers and Stoke take on the upwardly mobile Second Division pair of Burnley and Newcastle United. The first Tests panned out in such a manner that when Burnley and Stoke met in their final fixture, they knew that a draw would promote Burnley while also maintaining Stoke’s first-tier status. And there wouldn’t a single thing Blackburn or Newcastle could do about it. Goalless pact ahoy!
Preamble
Hello and welcome to one of the biggest games in the English football calendar: the Championship playoff final at Wembley. Sheffield United and Sunderland will meet to decide which team gets the Premier League Experience next season.
The good news for both teams is that somebody has to win. The two clubs have dreadful playoff records: Sheffield United have never been promoted in nine attempts, Sunderland only twice in seven – and one of those came after defeat in the 1990 final to Swindon, who were subsequently demoted because of financial irregularities.
Sheffield United start as favourites, having finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland in the regular season, but that’s rarely worth a damn in this fixture. May the best team win!
Kick off 3.01pm.
PS It’s worth over £200m to the winners. And that’s the first and last use of the pound sign today, because we’re sick to the back teeth of glory being quantified.
