Summary

  • Stewart goal gives Sunderland narrow advantage over Sheff Wed

  • Attendance of 44,742 a record for EFL play-off semi

  • Return leg on Monday at Hillsborough (19:45 BST)

  • Sheff Wed finished fourth, Sunderland fifth in table

  • Wycombe beat MK Dons 2-0 in other play-off first leg on Thursday

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 21:48 British Summer Time 6 May 2022

    SunderlandImage source, Rex Features

    That's as far as we go in here this evening.

    Sunderland will take a 1-0 lead to Hillsborough for the second leg against Sheffield Wednesday on Monday as they look to win promotion back to the Championship.

    Speaking of the second tier, it's the final day of the regular season in the Championship tomorrow and we'll be back with live text coverage from 12:00 BST.

    The conclusion of League Two will follow straight after.

    Hope you can join us then and thanks for your company tonight.

    Cheers!

  2. The lie of the landpublished at 21:45 British Summer Time 6 May 2022

    FT: Wycombe 2-0 MK Dons; Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Right then.

    The first legs of the League One play-off semi-finals are in the books now.

    MK Dons will host Wycombe on Sunday at 18:30 BST looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

    Sheffield Wednesday welcome Sunderland to Hillsborough on Monday evening trailing by one goal. That one kicks off at 19:45 BST.

  3. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:39 British Summer Time 6 May 2022

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Ross StewartImage source, Getty Images

    Advantage Sunderland.

    It maybe wasn't quite the classic we'd been hoping for but the home side wont be too bothered about that.

    Ross Stewart's goal in time added on at the end of the first half means the Black Cats take a one goal advantage to Hillsborough on Monday evening.

    It could have been more but Alex Pritchard hit the woodwork and Stewart fired a shot just wide after an error from Owls goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

    The game saw a record play-off semi-final attendance of 44,742.

  4. Postpublished at 90+3 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Barry Bannan sends the corner in for the Owls that Danny Batth heads out from under his own crossbar.

  5. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 90+2 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Sheffield Wednesday win a late corner as they pile on some late pressure.

    Jack Clarke is subbed off for Callum Doyle for the home side.

  6. Postpublished at 90 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Four minutes of time added on.

  7. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Oh, what a chance this is for 2-0!

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell comes miles out of his goal to deal with a nothing ball through the middle.

    He nods it down straight to Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.

    Stewart moves the ball on to his right foot and arrows a low shot just past the far post.

    My word.

  8. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 88 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Sheffield Wednesday make their second sub.

    George Byers makes way for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

  9. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    George Byers swings a deep cross over to Liam Palmer and his header back across the face is blocked by a home defender.

    The Owls have found a second wind but they STILL haven't made Anthony Patterson in the home goal make a save.

  10. Postpublished at 83 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Game's just fizzling out a little bit.

    Both teams will be relatively pleased with the score ending as it is.

    Sunderland's goal came from a Wednesday error just before the break and both sides will be desperate not to put a foot wrong in these closing minutes.

    Sunderland v Sheff WedImage source, Rex Features
  11. SUBSTITUTIONSpublished at 81 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Alex Neil goes to his bench.

    Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts are off for the home side and Elliot Embleton and Jay Matete are on.

    Bit of confusion as Jack Clarke's number was shown instead of Roberts' but Neil was quickly over to the fourth official to say there'd been an error.

  12. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    PANIC!

    Marvin Johnson does really well down the Wednesday left to swing in a deep cross that Anthony Patterson in the home goal flaps at.

    The ball drops loose and the home side smash it clear.

  13. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Wednesday are coming back into this after weathering quite a storm in the opening 15 or 20 minutes of this half.

    Massimo Luongo picks up a nice bit of space in midfield and floats a cross for Liam Palmer at the back stick but it's too high for him to head back across goal for Lee Gregory.

  14. Postpublished at 75 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    No changes from Alex Neil yet.

    The Sunderland boss will be pleased with what he's seen but they probably could and should be leading by more than just the one goal.

  15. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Well, that's no good.

    A ball is just hammered down the pitch for Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan to chase.

    That's not the former Scotland man's game at all and the ball goes out for a goalkick.

    Darren MooreImage source, Rex Features
  16. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Better from Wednesday.

    They win a couple of corners in quick succession but Josh Windass' second delivery drifts out of play.

  17. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Patrick Roberts sends a skidding effort wide of the Wednesday post from about 25 yards.

    The former Manchester City man looks in the mood now and the home side will look to get him on the ball whenever they can.

  18. Postpublished at 66 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    What a difference that goal for Ross Stewart just before half-time has made to this game.

    The Black Cats have totally bossed it since going in front and you feel like Wednesday would be delighted to leave here with just a one-goal deficit.

  19. YELLOW CARDpublished at 63 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Sunderland midfielder Luke O'Nien is booked for hauling down George Byers on the halfway line.

    He joins Massimo Luongo of the Owls in the book.

  20. Postpublished at 58 mins

    Sunderland 1-0 Sheff Wed

    Patrick Roberts is flying now.

    The Sunderland winger drifts in brilliantly from the right and his left-footed shot looks to be flying in before Sam Hutchinson gets a block in.