'One of the best feelings I've ever had' - Neil
Dan Neil celebrates 'unbelievable' Sunderland win
- Published
Sunderland captain Dan Neil will lead out his boyhood club at Wembley in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United after their "unbelievable" play-off semi-final win against Coventry.
Dan Ballard's last minute winner mirrored the Black Cats' 2019 League One play-off final defeat by Charlton where Patrick Bauer scored in added time to send the Addicks up.
"I wasn't quite in the squad back then, I was up in the stands with my dad," Neil told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"It was gutting watching that and seeing all the Sunderland players fall to the ground after all the hard work they put in that year.
"For the roles reversed this year, it's one of the best feelings I've ever had. Hopefully another one coming soon."
The midfielder praised the mentality of his team-mates to keep going until the end.
"It was unbelievable," he added. "I think that just shows the character of the squad. The motto is quite fitting, 'til the end. We certainly kept going 'til the end.
"I thought the last 15 minutes of extra time was outstanding. Tired legs. Fatigued mentally as well as physically because they had a lot of the ball again but we took the game by the scruff of the neck a little bit in the last 15 and we actually created some decent chances and kept the ball a little bit better and big Dan Ballard pops up with a special moment."
Now one win away from returning to the Premier League after eight years out of the top flight, Neil takes confidence from the last part of the semi-final.
"I think that last 15 minutes shows that when we're on it and when we believe in ourselves, when we trust each other, we can cut through teams," he said.
"We can cut through teams in possession and we need to take that into Wembley and take that character and that spirit backed by all them fans again coming to Wembley who were absolutely outstanding today. One last big push."