OTD: SAFC 2-0 WYCOMBE

On this day in 2022 Sunderland finally escaped League One at the fourth time of asking. It was a massive day for Sunderland AFC and marked the start of a new, and better, era on Wearside.

"This is a game that needs no introduction. It’s likely that anyone reading this was one of the just under 50,000 travelling supporters backing us down in the capital and failing that, one of the thousands of other fans watching at home or in the pub."

Sunderland lined up practically the same as they did in the second leg against Sheffield Wednesday but the introduction of Elliot Embleton was at the expense of Jack Clarke.

We outnumbered Wycombe essentially 2 to 1 in the stands and our supporters were fully behind the team, drowning out Wycombe's frankly embarrassing, incessant drum.

Within three minutes, about a third of the Sunderland end thought we’d scored, their conviction only reaffirmed by the ‘GOAL!’ banner that flashed on the advertising boards. Pritchard’s close free kick had fooled many on the right hand side of the stadium, who celebrated wildly for a brief period before being brought back down to earth as Stockdale approached his goal kick.

Stewart went close after and the opening ten minutes was all Sunderland. Embo forced a corner from Stockdale, his cross/shot being palmed over. Then, less than 5 mins later Pritchard had a tame effort routinely saved by Stockdale on 21 minutes.

Shortly after forcing the corner, Embleton had a chance to have a shot on goal from outside the area. Collecting the ball just inside Wycombe’s half, Embo was allowed to carry the ball forward unchallenged and, finding space, was able to unleash a powerful strike which appeared to just dissolve right through the helpless Stockdale, gifting us an early lead, sending the vast majority of the stadium, a sea of red and white, into delirium. We led at Wembley within the opening 15 minutes.

We kept up our attacking intent and finding the ball out wide on 26 minutes, Stewart cut in and attempted to bend the ball into the right hand side of Stockdale’s goal but the keeper got down well to parry the ball, which fell to Roberts. Roberts beat his man but, quickly bearing down on goal, blazed his shot over.

Wycombe, a side that has very little in the way of creativity, kept trying to take the ball into wide areas in order to pump balls into the box to feed Sam Vokes. His header, half an hour in, sailed hopelessly over.

On 36 minutes were we about to get out first ever VAR decision when Roberts appeared to be fouled in the box... No, sadly, it was offside.

Lack of communication nearly allowed Sam Vokes to be in on goal just before half time, but we just about managed to deal with it.

Wycombe were gifted an undeserved free kick, which was whipped into the box. But, much like every other punt into the box so far, it didn’t trouble Patterson in goal. Cirkin was yellowed after half time and in a mirror of the first half, Vokes had what looked to be a golden opportunity but we just about dealt with it.

Embo made way for Clarke, who was serenaded by many with a hasty, ill-fitting ‘Elliot Embleton, he’s one of our own’. The chant needed work, but the sentiment was commendable - Embo played well and took his goal very nicely.

Decisions weren’t going our way from 65-70. Roberts looked initially to be fouled, but VAR deemed the contact not worthy of a penalty, which it should have been.

The enormous Akinfenwa was brought on, a Wycombe player had a tame shot on goal comfortably saved. Sunderland were comfortable.

We were in control, the crowd wasn’t nervous. The professionalism and application of Alex Neil’s side was brilliant to watch. Application and professionalism sums up the Ross Stewart goal that clinched promotion. With a real moment of quality, Stewart took the ball, sent the defender the wrong way and finished brilliantly from outside the area.

Roberts could’ve scored, Clarke should have, but ultimately these things are meaningless. We were up, we were Championship. We are Sunderland.

We didn’t have to hold on - we afforded Wycombe no chances at all. A quality performance worthy of promotion.