Sunderland

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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.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland's dramatic play-off semi-final win over Coventry City will have given them belief they can beat Sheffield United in Saturday's Championship final, according to former Reading and Crystal Palace winger Jobi McAnuff.

The Black Cats scored a last-minute goal against the Sky Blues to secure a 3-2 aggregate win and McAnuff, who lost a Championship final with Reading in 2011 before winning promotion the following season, thinks that could strengthen their resolve.

"Sunderland have the emotional story, the euphoria of that last-minute goal from Dan Ballard," McAnuff told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"That's hard to quantify because, on the balance of play, they weren't the better team over the two legs but they found a way to win so you're bringing that belief you can win a game regardless of how they played."

Sunderland had considerably less possession than Coventry over the course of the semi-final including just 26% in their 2-1 victory in the first leg and McAnuff thinks it could be hard to beat the Blades if they play the same way at Wembley.

"I think Sunderland have shown the togetherness and belief to get through the semi-final - I just feel they need to keep the ball better so they're not doing as much work off the ball as they can be tough days if you're not seeing a lot of it."

Peter Farrer, the taxi driver from Netflix show Sunderland Til I Die, says Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris has "got to be given the praise" for guiding the club to the Championship play-off final.

The Frenchman's young squad face Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League.

Farrer, a Black Cats devotee who appeared regularly on the hit series covering the club, told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I think he's a very, very intelligent bloke.

"You never see him getting flushed. You never see him shouting his mouth off. He just does the job and you've got to remember in the second half of extra time [against Coventry in the semi-final second leg] he changed the tactics.

"He changed the way we were playing in that second half because they were on top, you couldn't dispute it - then of course, we scored."

Dan Ballard's last-second winner secured the aggregate win for Le Bris' side in a moment many are saying is among the best ever at the Stadium of Light.

"I've followed Sunderland since '64 and I've never been in an atmosphere like that in my life - the noise was unbelievable," Farrer added.

He also believes Sunderland should take heart from their previous meetings with the Blades this season.

"We got beat down there 1-0, [but] we beat them at the Stadium of Light," Farrer added. "So, they've won one, we've won one but I'll tell you the man who's got to be given the praise - the manager."

Listen to more from Farrer on BBC Sounds.

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Earlier today, we asked you how many fourth-placed finishers in the Championship have managed to claim promotion in the play-off final since 1990.

The answer - eight!

Notts County in 1991, Leicester City in 1994, Charlton Athletic in 1998, QPR in 2014, Hull City in 2016, Fulham in 2020, Nottingham Forest in 2022 and Southampton in 2024.

Can Sunderland join that list on Saturday?

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Sunderland are looking for promotion back to the Premier League on Saturday when they meet Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final (15:01 BST).

The Black Cats finished fourth in the table this season - but how many sides who came fourth have gone on to win promotion in the final since 1990?

Come back to this page later today for the answer.

Image source, Rex Features

Premier League referee Chris Kavanagh will take charge of Saturday's Championship play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland.

The 39-year-old started refereeing in the EFL in 2014 before stepping up to the Premier League in 2017.

Saturday will be his second Championship final, having refereed the 2021 Wembley showpiece when Fulham beat Swansea City 2-0 and he sent off the Swans' Jay Fulton.

Kavanagh was also in charge for last season's EFL Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool and has officiated in the Champions League, Europa League and Nations League.

All three play-off finals this year will include the use of VAR, semi-automated offside technology and in-stadia announcements.

Father Marc Lyden-Smith, the priest from Netflix show Sunderland 'Til I Die, says "There's a few extra candles been lit" in his church ahead of Saturday's Championship play-off final.

The Black Cats face Sheffield United at Wembley after beating Coventry City in the semi-final over two legs.

Fr Marc told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I'm feeling confident, actually.

"Last week, the match wasn't a great match but you don't remember all the nerves being shot and the anxiety and the worry because the last minute was so magical and now we're through to the final - all to play for and about time we returned to the big time."

Fans have quipped that Dan Ballard's extra-time winner was 'typical Sunderland' and that the club never do things the easy way.

But the Catholic parish priest of Seaham and Houghton-le-Spring isn't bothered how they win promotion to the Premier League so long as they do.

"I don't care as long as we pass that line," he said.

"It's been such a long time coming and I think most neutral people that watched Sunderland Til I Die, our fans throughout the world, we've got a great fanbase throughout the globe actually.

"People in the north east want the derby to be back. I'm sure there will be Newcastle fans hoping we get up, you never know. Lots of people are behind Sunderland on Saturday.

"I don't care how we get there as long as we cross that line and get back to where this club belongs, which is in the Premier League."

Religious or not, plenty of Sunderland fans will be praying for a win on Saturday.

Fr Marc said: "There's a few extra candles been lit, I've noticed. Lots of Sunderland fans have been popping and lighting candles and why not?

"And we have a new Pope. Sunderland are now unbeaten under Pope Leo, so that's exciting. The last Pope was a Sunderland fan, why can't we not claim this one as well, eh?"

You can listen to more from Father Marc Lyden-Smith on BBC Sounds.

Sunderland are keen on signing Montpellier's Mali defender Modibo Sagnan, 26 - whether they win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs or remain in the Championship. (Sunderland Echo, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

In one of the most memorable moments from Netflix show Sunderland Til I Die, fan Michelle Barraclough cried, "Why is it never us celebrating? Why is it never us?" after the 2019 League One play-off final loss to Charlton.

Six years later, the Championship play-off final awaits the Black Cats this weekend.

Michelle told BBC Radio Newcastle it'll "probably" be the greatest day of her life if Sunderland win against Sheffield United.

"Although we won against Wycombe, that was obviously the [2022] League One play-off, this is to get back where we belong, in the Premier League."

"And let's not forget," she added, "this is the richest game in football. The winner receives £220m I believe. Something like that. Of course the loser gets nothing. So it really is the biggest game in football. The richest game in football. So this is a different level again isn't it?"

"It was brilliant seeing them win against Wycombe getting into the Championship again but that was only half way. We really need this one to get back in the Premier League."

Regis Le Bris' side secured their place in the Championship play-off final through a dramatic last second of extra-time winner from Dan Ballard.

"It's an absolute rollercoaster being a Sunderland fan," Michelle added.

"The amount of ups and downs but every time something like Tuesday night happens, it's worth it all. There's no feeling like it. No feeling in the world than when your team's winning.

"It's absolutely brilliant. You can't believe the difference it makes in the whole city. It lifts the whole city. The amount of people who were smiling and if it had gone the other way it would have been the opposite."

Michelle is feeling optimistic ahead of Saturday's trip to Wembley.

"It's one of those games where you've literally got 50% chance of winning," she said.

"I think form goes out the window to be honest. We've just lost five league games and then won two games in the play-off. So what can I say?

"We're through to Wembley. We've got as much chance as Sheffield United. As far as I'm concerned we're in with a good shout."

You can listen to more from Michelle Barraclough on BBC Sounds.

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Dan Ballard says he visualised Didier Drogba's iconic Champions League final goal just seconds before steering in a replica to take Sunderland to Wembley.

The 25-year-old former Arsenal youngster headed in a corner at the near post to overcome Coventry in the final seconds of extra time in the Championship play-off semi-final at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.

It came 13 years to the week after Drogba produced a similar finish from a corner to snatch an 89th-minute draw for Chelsea in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, and Ballard said he had visualised it before Enzo Le Fee swung in the set-piece which he stooped to head home in unorthodox fashion in mid-air.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I didn't know how many minutes had been put up, I was focused on the game, I knew it would be one of the last opportunities.

"I pictured, I don't know why, Didier Drogba's goal in the Champions League final. I thought 'I'm going to hang around at the near post and try to get half a yard and flick it into the top corner'.

"It was a great ball from Enzo and that's what happened. It all worked out perfectly."

Ballard admitted Drogba's header, which paved the way for the Blues to win the match on penalties, was his favourite goal growing up, adding: "The corners before hadn't worked out so well and I wasn't getting my timing quite right - I had that picture in my head."

Ballard said the celebrations after his winner at the Stadium of Light were "just an outpouring of emotion".

"The noise in the stadium, the reaction of the fans, players and staff - I think everyone lost control a little bit," he said.

"It was really emotional, honestly just pure joy and I think every fan in the stadium felt that as well and the noise in there was just incredible.

"When the ball came off the back of my head, I just had a feeling it was going in, even though it as strange technique I just had a feeling and when it hit the back of the net I lost all control and I think everyone else did as well."

Ballard said he had been taken aback by the response to his goal on Wearside, admitting: "I have had thousands of messages saying it was the greatest night of their life and their greatest football moment. I probably didn't realise the significance of it at the time. A few days go by and I realise the impact it had on the city."

Ballard helped Blackpool earn promotion from League One at Wembley in 2021 while on loan from Arsenal and said the experience will help when the Black Cats take on Sheffield United on 24 May.

He said: "Four or five were here with Sunderland when they went up from League One in 2022. Even winning the EFL Trophy in 2021 is all experience of playing at Wembley. It was daunting where I first played there. A bit of experience in the dressing room will help massively."

Ballard said Sunderland will "take a lot of confidence" from both of their league games against the Blades into the final.

"Even though we had a 1-0 defeat away from home I thought we played really well," he said. "I wasn't involved at the Stadium of Light but the lads were terrific. They were tough games but we can take a lot of confidence from them."

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

The kick-off time has been confirmed for the Championship play-off final between Sunderland and Sheffield United.

The English Football League confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the Wembley showpiece will get under way at 15:00 BST next Saturday afternoon, 24 May.

The announcement follows a meeting of the safety advisory group which includes representatives from all relevant agencies and other stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Police and Wembley National Stadium.

The League One play-off final the following day will kick-off at 13:00 BST and the League Two decider will start at 15:00 BST on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May.

All three play-off finals will include the use of VAR, semi-automated offside technology and in-stadia announcements.