Image source, Rex Features

It's six years since Sunderland tumbled out of the Premier League.

Five since they suffered the ignominy of successive relegations to drop down to League One.

Now? The Black Cats are purring once more and they're in contention to record back-to-back promotions back to the big time.

Twenty minutes to go and Sunderland on top.

No changes from either side yet.

I'd expect Luton to go to their bench shortly. The home side are firmly in the ascendancy.

Amad Diallo goes for goal again from a free-kick but this time it's high and wide.

A third Sunderland goal would leave the in a very dominant position for the second leg next week.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport at the Stadium of Light

What a noise again. Decibels soaring as the Black Cats hit the front.

Then we had a pitch invader, there were some Kevin Ball-style attempts by the stewards to bring him down - aka hacking - before he slid on his knees and was accosted.

Alex Pritchard gave him a pointed finger and an enraged face to say 'get off!'. Sunderland don't need anything to take the gloss off this moment.

Luton need to get a grip, they've been bossed.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Excellent goal, well worked as well.

Great ball in from Jack Clarke, that's what he's capable of - he can frustrate you but he can make opportunities.

Luton striker Carlton Morris is on the end of a heavy challenge in the area after bashing into Patrick Roberts.

There's no major appeals for a penalty but that was a sore one for the number nine.

Image source, Rex Features

The past four meetings between these pair have ended 1-1.

We're about 30 minutes away from that being five.

Luton just have a little spell of possession and then Gabriel Osho swings a high ball up to the back stick.

Anthony Patterson wants to come for it but thinks better of it and Carlton Morris heads the ball down into a good area.

Fortunately for the home side there's no Luton player there.

As mentioned before, the Black Cats are really down to the bare bones defensively and they're lacking height at the back.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland are playing with all the freedom of lads having a knockabout down at Powerleague.

You've got Alex Pritchard doing chops, feints and flicks; Patrick Roberts seems like he's playing a game where he's only allowed to caress the ball with the outside of the boot or backheel and Amad Diallo is like a willo-the-wisp.

They're making Luton look pedestrian at times. Then, the Hatters just show their own class - powering downfield like a swarm of tanks before an overhit cross runs out of play.

Shadows cascading the pitch, it's cooling off in terms of temperature but it's just simmering in terms of intensity.

Image source, Getty Images

Not that he looks it here but Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray will be delighted with how his side have turned the momentum of this game in their favour.

There's a stoppage on the pitch as Luton skipper Tom Lockyer gets some treatment.

Big chance for the home side to take the lead!

Alex Pritchard does really well to wriggle free down their right and he cuts it back for Joe Gelhardt to fire at goal.

He makes a decent connection but his shot flies past the near post.

Back under way in this evenly poised play-off semi-final.

Tom Gayle
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator at the University of Bolton Stadium

Image source, Rex Features

Bolton manager Ian Evatt is keen to talk up his side in the post-match press conference, and uses the word “positive” a number of times in his first few answers.

He knows Barnsley are now the favourites, and his side will need to be better next week.

Evatt also confirms the most delicate part of Dion Charles’ anatomy(!) got the crucial touch for the equaliser.

Barnsley boss Michael Duff is very calm in his post-match press conference.

Very measured with all of his words, no frustration, or criticism of his own players.

The body language and demeanour of display says to me Barnsley are extremely confident they can get the job done in the return semi-final.

Notts County seal return to EFLpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 13 May 2023

18:28 BST 13 May 2023

Chesterfield 2-2 Notts County (3-4 on pens)

Notts County are back in the EFL - and you'd be hard-pushed to say they don't deserve it.

Again they did it the hard way - twice they trailed a tremendous Chesterfield side, twice they came roaring back, as they tend to do.

Cedwyn Scott struck the winning penalty to earn them Wembley glory. Congratulations, Magpies.

Reaction is here.

Matt Newsum
BBC Sport at the Stadium of Light

Image source, Rex Features

Great atmosphere and an occasion you feel just highlights the strength of the Championship. This event, this match, this huge game feels as significant as it should. That's down to the crowd - both sides, and the players for delivering.

One thing strikes me, Luton's goal came from a total mismatch with regards aerial threat and supremacy in the box. Elijah Adebayo profited because Sunderland couldn't clear.

Why haven't they done it again? Well, fair play to Sunderland but they've done really well on the ball, denied them possession and in return they've moved the ball swiftly and at times, Luton have chased shadows.

Amad Diallo seemed to have that glint in his eye after the goal, and the languid, shuffling style of Jack Clarke is another threat.

Carlton Morris surely won't be as quiet again this next half? It's still all to play for.

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

Normally the Luton midfield gets the better of the opposition midfield, but that's not happening today.

There's just so many of them for Sunderland.

Tony Mowbray has done well - he's crowded the midfield and that means Luton aren't enjoying as much of the ball as they'd like.

Image source, Getty Images

Pulsating stuff on Wearside where it's all-square at the break.

The away side took an early lead through Elijah Adebayo's close range shot after the Hatters had exposed Sunderland's lack of height from a corner.

Th Hatters took total control after that and you did start to fear for this young Black Cats side.

However, a moment of sheer brilliance from Amad Diallo has totally changed the vibe of this.

The Manchester United loanee curled home a sumptuous shot after Alex Pritchard rolled a free-kick to him with five minutes of the first half remaining.

It's been all Sunderland since.

Into two minutes of time added on.

Sunderland do not want this half to end.

What a difference a goal makes.

Does it make an extra difference when it's such an absolute stunner? Feels like it.

Amad Diallo fancies another now. He motors forward and then wins a corner as his strike is deflected behind.