Sunderland sealed back-to-back playoff seasons with a 3-0 thrashing of Preston and with a monumental comeback from Blackburn over Millwall we earned a sixth place finish in the Championship.
Tony Mowbray named an unchanged team in the last game of the season with the lads looking to seal a place in the playoffs.
Preston’s playoff push ended last week against Sheffield United, but the Black Cats needed results to go their way.
The home side had started the better side and came close to taking the lead, a deflected effort by Ali McCann left Anthony Patterson wrongfooted but it fell just past the post.
Sunderland had weathered the early storm from the hosts and were controlling possession without finding a route to goal.
Joe Gelhardt looked to have a clear penalty turned down as he ran into the box and looked to be fouled, but the referee firmly said no.
The lads were growing into the game and Patrick Robert’s curled in a lovely effort to the far corner, but Freddie Woodman made a brilliant save to deny him.
Preston had a glorious chance to as Liam Delap was sent through on goal, but he could only drag his effort wide.
Sunderland had an amazing chance to go ahead, the lads worked it from back to front beautifully and Pierre Ekwah slipped in a lovely ball to Joe Gelhardt, but the Leeds loanee couldn’t beat Woodman.
The lads worked it so well on the counter, and Amad found via a lovely Pritchard dummy Dan Neil who curled an effort just past the post.
Sunderland were having chance after chance, Gelhardt slipped it through to Ekwah but Woodman denied him with a great save.
The pressure finally was too much for Preston and it was the star man, Amad. The Ivorian whipped a sensational effort into the far corner leaving Woodman with no chance.
Sunderland’s lack of height was cause for concern and from a corner and Patrick Bauer was denied by the Sunderland stopper.
The lads were doing their job and Alex Pritchard scored a brilliant goal curling it in the far corner and deceived Woodman to put Sunderland two up.
Sunderland were in full steam and scored another brilliant goal, on the break Gelhardt found Clarke down the left-hand side and dispatched a superb curling effort into the corner.
Mowbray’s men had done their job and were relying on the other results in a tense final 15 with eyes on Blackburn, Millwall and Coventry all drawing.
The thousands of die-hard Sunderland fans exploded with joy as Blackburn scored a fourth to make it 4-3 against Millwall needing them to get two goals in the dying stages.
FULL TIME: Preston North End 0-3 Sunderland
ALS MAN OF THE MATCH: Pierre Ekwah
SUNDERLAND: Patterson, Gooch, Hume, O'Nien, Cirkin (Pritchard 46’), Neil, Ekwah (Ba 86’), Roberts, Amad (Lihadji 86’), Clarke, Gelhardt (Michut 72’)
SUBS NOT USED: Bass, Anderson, Michut, Taylor
