Sunderland ended the season with a performance that epitomised the second half of the campaign, spiritless and a chore to watch.
Two goals in the first half that we really should have done better to deal with from Liam Palmer and Josh Windass ensured Sheffield Wednesday's survival and our 11th home defeat of 2023/24.
The final game of 2023/24 would be a slightly less important one for Sunderland than the concluding game of the season prior to say the least but with the visitors, Sheffield Wednesday, needing at least a point (or hope that both Plymouth and Birmingham City failed to win) they'd be sure to guarantee that the match wouldn't be a repeat of the dead rubber affair at the last home match against Millwall.
SUNDERLAND XI: Bishop, O'Nien, Ballard, Alese, Hume, Ekwah, Bellingham, Styles, Roberts, Clarke, Aouchiche
Subs: Patterson, Watson, Evans, Pembélé, Semedo, Mundle, Ba, Rigg, Dack
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY XI: Beadle, Palmer, Iorfa, Bernard, Valentin, Vaulks, Bannan, Johnson, Musaba, Windass, Ugbo
Subs: Dawson, B Diaby, Paterson, Ihiekwe, Famewo, M Diaby, Smith, Gassama, Cadamarteri
To get the game up and running, Sheffield Wednesday had three chances within a few minutes of each other, Marvin Johnson had a shot from a corner blocked, Anthony Musaba really should have done better with a chance inside the six yard box and an Ike Ugbo header went over the target.
Patrick Roberts had our first effort, firing over from outside the penalty area.
On the 20th minute mark Josh Windass did well to see a strike go just wide from a very tight angle and then Wednesday took the lead through Liam Palmer. The Scotland international was played in with a good pass from Barry Bannan before he found the far corner.
An equaliser almost game shortly afterwards, a curling Jack Clarke shot hit the post and nobody could capitalise on the rebound and two minutes later Trai Hume was denied by a block.
The leveller was never found though and the day got a lot worse as the Owls made sure they'd be a Championship football club next season by doubling their lead. Pol Valentin crossed and Windass blasted it high into the net. Nathan Bishop could have arguably done better with both of the goals.
Somehow a goal continued to allude Patrick Roberts, he managed to miss from only a few yards out with over half the net open for him to shoot into.
In first half stoppage time Jobe Bellingham had a good chance blocked and at half time the score was Sunderland 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday. The only thoughts in the Stadium of Light were that the next 45 minutes couldn't get themselves over and done with quick enough and that Tommy Watson had to get some game time during the second half.
Clarke almost created a goal not long into the second half but Adil Aouchice could only flash his cross wide with a header.
The first yellow of the afternoon went to Ajibola Alese for dragging back Valentin.
We had a few chances to get back into the game as the match approached 70 minutes. Clarke struck just over, Aouchiche unleashed a bit of a stinging effort which forced James Beadle to make a save and Clarke had another effort which was also prevented by the goalkeeper on loan from Brighton.
Three minutes from the 90 Watson finally got an opportunity to play some first team minutes, coming on for Clarke in what is likely his last game in a Sunderland shirt.
FULL TIME: SUNDERLAND 0-2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
ALS MAN OF THE MATCH: JACK CLARKE: He came close to scoring and on the basis of the whole season he deserves man of the match in his likely final Sunderland appearance.
