After eight years that have felt like a lifetime away, Sunderland are back in the big time.
The flares were lit, and the roars of relief were let out. Kevin Phillips, Peter Reid and Jordan Henderson beamed in the stands. Luke O’Nien, forced off in the opening two minutes with a dislocated shoulder, flew down the touchline to join the celebrations, arm flapping alongside him like a handicapped pigeon.
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Perhaps it was fitting that a homegrown lad from Horden scored the goal to send them back up. Watson’s decision to join Brighton last month seems all the more baffling now; why would anyone want to miss what comes next?
For so long, Sheffield United had this game under control. Gradually, they allowed it to slip from grasp, Kieffer Moore’s errant pass on halfway rolling to Watson who punished him brutally.
History beckoned for either winner. Red and white striped teams have been allergic to Championship play-off final success. Sheffield United had lost all three out of three, Sunderland two out of two.
They began assertively and deservedly took the lead after 25 minutes. The goal wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Premier League stadium.
Hamer waited and waited for Tyrese Campbell to catch up with him and released the perfect pass once he had galloped into view; the striker took a touch and calmly dinked a finish over the onrushing Patterson.
Sunderland were in danger of letting the occasion slip from them. When Harrison Burrows’ sweetly struck volley from the edge of the box skipped and skidded past Patterson, the whole of Wembley had the same thought: Game over.
It was all they had had to shout about. Sunderland froze in the first-half with Cooper only called into action in the fifth minute of added time by a tame Chris Rigg effort. There was greater belief after the restart, but not enough spark or incision.
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Le Bris rolled the dice. Patrick Roberts came on first, followed 17 minutes from time by top scorer Wilson Isidor and Watson. A cautious 4-4-1-1 swapped out for a bold 4-2-4 with Enzo Le Fee one of the sitters.
Cue relief, cue bedlam, cue a changing of the tide. Jobe Bellingham drilled a shot over as renewed belief too hold. Then came the golden moment, Watson scoring to send the Sunderland fans into dreamland.
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