Sunderland

Sunderland striker Eliezer Mayenda hopes he made his family proud in helping the Black Cats win promotion to the Premier League.

The 20-year-old scored a 76th minute equaliser in the Championship play-off final 2-1 victory against Sheffield United. He told BBC Radio Newcastle, "It was a really good time to score especially in that moment of the game.

"After the first half, in the second half we were more confident with the ball. This goal was like a recompense about how we played in the second half, so yeah it was good."

He added: "After the goal we said on the pitch, 'lads we have to keep pushing again, we can win the game.' After that we did it. Tommy was incredible. He was incredible in the second half. Tommy scored the second goal and everybody was really happy about that."

Substitute Tommy Watson's winner was a poetic moment as he's set to leave Regis Le Bris' side this summer to join Brighton. The deal was announced before the season finished and some Sunderland supporters called for the academy product to not play another minute for the club.

On the other hand, Mayenda has become a fan favourite. Chants of "Oi big man, what's your name?" were heard loud and proud around Trafalgar Square and Wembley this weekend.

The Spaniard says he's happy to have repaid supporters: "Good. I'm very happy. It's good for the team, for the club, for everybody, for the fans. Yeah, I'm happy, very happy."

"Very happy not just for me but for the fans again as well so I'm just very happy to get promotion."

"We stayed confident during all the game. I think we did well today especially with the mentality. Team spirit was good today. I think the fans deserve it."

Mayenda's family were in the stands at Wembley to see him become the third youngest goalscorer ever in a second division play-off final.

He said: "Hopefully my whole family are proud."

We're sure they are big man.

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

The job's done.

Sunderland will be back in the Premier League next season after youngster Tommy Watson scored an added-time winner to beat rivals Sheffield United.

How does it feel, Black Cats fans? Did you believe in Regis Le Bris and his men all along or have they exceeded your wildest dreams?

Let us know here what you thought of your team's promotion-winning performance on Saturday.

Former Sunderland striker Michael Bridges believes that Sunderland's play-off final against Sheffield United on Saturday (15:01 BST) will be decided by which team can cope with the pressure of Wembley.

Although the 46-year-old thinks that boss Regis Le Bris will play a large part in how his young squad react to the final.

"It's about who is going to get down there and handle the occasion," Bridges told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"As soon as that whistle blows and the white line fever kicks in, all the noise switches off. You go back into your world.

"I think from Regis Le Bris and what we've seen from the lads this season, everything that has been thrown at them, they have handled.

"Le Bris might be a quiet man but I think the lads have been nurtured in the right way and that's why I think they are geared up to do something very special."

However, Sunderland have the youngest starting XI across the entire Championship and Bridges admits that inexperience played a part in his own play-off journey.

During the 1997-98 season, Bridges reached the First Division play-off finals with the Black Cats; however then boss Peter Reid chose not to include him on the substitutes' bench.

"I was really nervous when I got to Wembley for the first time and I was a youngster as well," Bridges added.

"As much as I loved entertaining, I think the pressure got to me and Peter Reid recognised that and I had to sit that one out."

Listen to the full interview and more on the Total Sport podcast.

Former Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca says "it's time for the club to be back in the Premier League" as they prepare for the Championship play-off final against Sheffield United.

The Black Cats play the Blades at Wembley on Saturday and Arca told BBC Radio Newcastle: "When the game arrives tomorrow, I think the players will feel that atmosphere.

"That is going to be fantastic to see so many Sunderland fans there in the stadium supporting the team. There's thousands going today. Thousands going tomorrow."

He added: "Hopefully it's a good day for the football club. It's been a while now so I think it's time for the club to get back to the Premier League and play against some of the biggest teams in the world."

The Argentine spent six years at the Stadium of Light and helped guide the club back to England's top flight in 2005.

He said: "I was lucky enough to win the Championship with Sunderland under Mick McCarthy and that was a fantastic season. That's when you realise how much it means for the people in Sunderland when you achieve a title. [Promotion] could mean a lot for the Sunderland fans."

Arca is confident Regis Le Bris' side can get back to where many fans and pundits say they belong.

"I believe they can do it," he said.

"Yes, probably the last seven or eight games the team didn't play as well as the fans wanted to see but at the end of the day you have to get through every game. Yes, sometimes they've been lucky but you need that on your side as well.

"I'm sure the team's got enough. There's some talented players there that can change games and I keep my fingers crossed that hopefully they do it and they're back in the Premier League."

You can listen to more from Julio Arca on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland legend Jimmy Montgomery is looking forward to the club's current crop joining him in Wembley folklore.

The 81-year-old produced one of the most iconic double saves to deny Leeds duo Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer on the way to Sunderland winning the 1973 FA Cup final under the old twin towers.

He's now told BBC Radio Newcastle he expects the Black Cats to beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, though he hopes goalkeeper Anthony Patterson won't need to perform any heroics on the day.

"I think we're going to win," Montgomery said. "I think the two games we've played against Sheffield United we've beaten them at home and should have beaten them away also.

"They're going to try to outmuscle us, but I think we have learned a lot over the course of this season - I think we have coped quite well with it.

"I am so confident we're going to win you wouldn't believe."

Montgomery's heroics came in a 1-0 win, but he would like a more comfortable margin of victory this time around, saying: "I'm at the age where 1-0 doesn't suit me at all.

"I want Patto to do nothing, be a spectator. It would be great if he saved a penalty or made some magnificent saves but I want him to have the quietest game he's had all season."

The west stand at the Stadium of Light was renamed in honour of the club's record appearance-maker before the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Coventry, and Montgomery was given a guard of honour before the game, adding: "That was something special.

"Dan Ballard scoring that goal in the third minute of injury time was the icing on the cake."

Click here for more from Montgomery's interview with BBC Radio Newcastle.

The singer of Netflix show Sunderland 'Til I Die's theme song has praised the club's ownership and management team for their understanding of the city and its people.

The Lake Poets song Shipyards is used as the theme for the documentary that chronicled the Black Cats' fall from the Premier League to League One. Now they are one win away from returning to the top flight of English football.

Regis le Bris' side face Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday. The artist, also known as Marty Longstaff, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We're definitely on the up.

"You can feel it in the air, the huge change and a positive change at that. Not only in terms of the culture, everything that we've been doing. The football club, the new management, the new ownership - they get it. They understand the city. They understand our mentality."

He added: "We've been through the hard times. We're going to be where we deserve to be next year - in the Premier League. It's going to be absolutely amazing."

Even in the event of a loss, Marty is looking forward to Sunderland fans' traditional night-before-Wembley gathering in Trafalgar Square.

He said: "We've just had such a great time in Trafalgar Square. In London, everywhere you turned was red and white. Everybody was speaking in my accent. It was just a carnival atmosphere. A couple of the best times of my life, so I'm so excited.

"Even if I don't get a ticket, I'm going to be in Trafalgar Square. I'm going to be getting myself there by hook or by crook. I cannot wait."

You can listen to more from Marty Longstaff on BBC Sounds.

Sheffield United and Sunderland meet at Wembley on Saturday (15:01 BST) as they look to secure promotion in the play-off final.

The Blades sailed past Bristol City to book their place, while it took a last gasp winner from Dan Ballard to see the Black Cats avoid a penalty clash with Coventry City.

Neither side have won a Championship play-off before but Sunderland did find their first play-off promotion in League One in 2022, while Sheffield United are still in search of their own slice of EFL play-off history.

• This is Sunderland's third second tier play-off final – they lost 1-0 to Swindon in 1989-90 (though still ended up being promoted due to Swindon's demotion) and lost on penalties to Charlton in 1997-98 after a 4-4 draw.

• This will be Sheffield United's fifth Football League play-off final and first since losing 8-7 on penalties to Huddersfield Town in League One in May 2012. Overall, the Blades have failed to earn promotion in any of their four previous finals, no side has appeared in more without ever earning promotion (4 also for Leeds United and Reading).

• Sheffield United finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland in the regular Championship season – it's the biggest points difference between two Football League play-off finalists in the current format (since 1988-89).

• The only previous meeting between Sunderland and Sheffield United in the play-offs came in the 1997-98 semi-final, with the Black Cats winning 3-2 on aggregate (1-2 away, 2-0 home) before losing the final on penalties to Charlton.

• Sheffield United have won five of their last seven meetings with Sunderland in all competitions (L2), though did lose the most recent fixture 2-1 in January.

• Having failed to win any of their seven competitive matches at Wembley Stadium between 1985 and 2019, Sunderland have won their last two at the ground – 1-0 against Tranmere in the 2021 Football League Trophy final and 2-0 against Wycombe in the 2021-22 League One play-off final.

• Sheffield United haven't won any of their last seven matches at Wembley Stadium (D1 L6), with their last win coming 100 years ago against Cardiff City in the 1925 FA Cup final.

• Sheffield United won both of their semi-final legs 3-0 against Bristol City, the only previous sides to score 3+ goals in three games of a Football League play-off campaign are Walsall in 1987-88 and Barnsley in 2015-16.

• Eliezer Mayenda has been involved in nine goals in his 13 starts for Sunderland in all competitions so far in 2025 (7 goals, 2 assists), including a goal and an assist in the Black Cats' 2-1 win over Sheffield United on New Year's Day.

• Callum O'Hare scored in both legs of Sheffield United's 6-0 aggregate victory over Bristol City in the semi-final. The last player to score in both semi-final legs and the final in a Championship play-off campaign was Bobby Zamora for West Ham in 2004-05.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland are in their first Championship play-off final since 1998, when they lost one of the most memorable ties on penalties to Charlton after a 4-4 draw.

Can the Black Cats return to the Premier League after eight years away?

Join former Sunderland players Darren Williams and Kieron Brady alongside Simon Pryde on BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport on Thursday (18:00 BST) as they look ahead to the final and hear from boss Regis Le Bris as well.

If you are not in BBC Radio Newcastle's broadcast area you can watch and listen online on the BBC Sport website and app, on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.