Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe LIVE – League One play-off final: Stewart adds second as Black Cats seal Championship return

That's all from Wembley

Sunderland are back in the Championship after beating Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

The Black Cats' four-year misery in the third division came to an end thanks to a 2-0 victory in the legendary ground in London.

Alex Neil's men opened the scoring after just 12 minutes thanks to Elliot Embleton’s long-range shot and David Stockdale’s blunder as the ball went through his left hand.

Sunderland sealed promotion when Alex Pritchard set the team’s top scorer Ross Stewart up on the edge of the box and the striker sent the ball to Stockdale’s bottom right corner.

That's all from us at SunSport, thank you for following the action with us and have a great evening!

Alex Pritchard reacts

Sunderland star Alex Pritchard is over the moon as the club was in League One "for too long".

Pritchard told Sky Sports: "Everyone goes on about the size of this club, I've said many times it's been in this league for too long. We've had ups and downs all season, it's been an absolute rollercoaster.

"Big thank you to Lee Johnson at the start of the season, a lot of credit to him, and now the gaffer's come in and has been unbelievable.

"We've stuck together, we've had some tough times this year, and the fans deserve it - they've been incredible"

Ross Stewart reacts

Sunderland star Ross Stewart, who scored the team's second goal, called today's triumph the "icing on the cake" for an impressive season.

Stewart told Sky Sports: "It's an unbelievable feeling, for it to end like this in the play-offs, you couldn't have picked a better way to do it,

"We're a confident group, and we had to treat it right, we were excellent today and got what we deserved.

"It was a massive opener, Wycombe defend really well and the goal settled us down. Getting the second got us home.

"Today was the icing on the cake in a game with so much importance"

Alex Neil reacts

Sunderland manager Alex Neil insists the Championship promotion is "the first step" towards a Premier League return.

Neil told Sky Sports: "I thought we deserved to win.

"Wycombe have done great this season, we knew a lot of people had heavily backed us, but that's normal for us.

"We coped with that really well, the lads deserve it. I'm buzzing for them, and the fans.

"This club shouldn't be where it is, and this is the first step towards getting us back where we want to be"

Elliot Embleton reacts

Sunderland ace Elliot Embleton scored the team's first goal of the night against Wycombe Wanderers.

And it was a major goal that led to an even greater moment for the midfielder, who has been with the club since he was seven years old.

Embleton told Sky Sports: "I've been here since I was seven and to win in front of 46,000 Sunderland fans is unreal,

"I can't believe it. We're a massive club, look at all the fans"

Sunderland officially promoted

Sunderland captain Corry Evans raised the trophy up in the air to seal the team's promotion to the Championship.

The Black Cats are among the biggest clubs in England in terms of history, fanbase as well as tradition and getting out of League One has been an obsession for four years.

It is now a reality for the team that is looking for another promotion in 12 months' time to return to the Premier League.

Until then, Alex Neil's men celebrate!

Emotions running high

Sunderland fans are over the moon after the victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

Die-hard supporters broke down in tears after full-time as they finally get some good news after five soul-crushing years.

The Black Cats' misery started in 2017 when they were relegated from the Premier League following a number of turbulent seasons.

They then dropped to the third division a year later but Alex Neil's arrival has drastically improved the situation for the English giants, who are hoping to be restored to the top tier in another 12 months

Stats

Sunderland dominated most of the League One play-off final at Wembley.

But Wycombe Wanderers had 52 per cent of possession after improving in the second half.

The Black Cats registered a total of 13 shots, five of which were on target.

The Chairboys, on the other hand, produced six shots, half of which were on target

FT: Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

Wembley has experienced one of its biggest roars as Sunderland are finally out of League One and back into the Championship.

Alex Neil's men, who haven't lost since February, kept it together and dominated Wycombe Wanderers throughout the entire match.

The Black Cats opened the scoring after just 12 minutes thanks to Elliot Embleton's long-range shot and David Stockdale's blunder as the ball went through his left hand.

Sunderland sealed promotion when Alex Pritchard set the team's top scorer Ross Stewart up on the edge of the box and the striker sent the ball to Stockdale's bottom right corner

FT: Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

PEEP!

That's it at Wembley, Sunderland are back in the Championship!

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

90+3 Sunderland ace Pritchard has been announced as Man oof the Match at Wembley.

Wycombe have surrendered as the Black Cats are finally returning to the Championship

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

90 WHAT A CHANCE!

Sunderland ace Clarke breaks inside the area and has only Stockdale to beat but the Wycombe keeper denies him.

Five more minutes of stoppage time to go

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

90 CHANCE

Akinfenwa got his retirement match and is looking for his retirement goal.

A cross comes from the left and he catches a difficult shot in the far post that causes him to lose his balance.

But it is too soft and Patterson picks it up

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

88 SUBSTITUTION

Sunderland ace Broadhead comes on to replace the team's best player this season Stewart.

Both of the Black Cats' scorers are off

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

87 Chance

Wycombe push for a late goal to get back in the game.

But Patterson clears a corner and saves Stewart's shot from a tight angle on the right

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

87 They're going up, as it stands!

Stewart has given Sunderland a comfortable lead and they are pushing hard for a third!

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

85 Chance!

Sunderland are still pushing for a third!

Roberts runs down the right wing and fires a rather weak low shot that just misses Stockdale's bottom right corner

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

82 CHANCE

Sunderland star Stewart looks to end this once and for all with a shot from the right but just misses Stockdale's bottom right corner

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

80 SUBSTITUTION

Sunderland boss Neil makes another switch to protect his lead.

Dyle comes on for Pritchard

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

79 And surely this is it! Surely, Sunderland's League One misery ends after this!

Pritchard and Stewart have a nice one-two and the club's top scorer this season gets two touches on the edge of the area before firing a shot to Stockdale's bottom right corner!

Sunderland 2-0 Wycombe

GOAL!

And Sunderland have scored what could be the winner with Stewart!

Sunderland 1-0 Wycombe

78 Wycombe star Akinfenwa is going to retire after this match.

The 40-year-old has come on as a sub in the final

Sunderland 1-0 Wycombe

78 It looks like Wycombe boss Ainsworth is now playing with two strikers.

Akinfenwa and Vokes are leading the line

Sunderland 1-0 Wycombe

76 YELLOW CARD

Sunderland ace Pritchard gets booked as he gets rough with Scowen there

Sunderland 1-0 Wycombe

75 Substitution

And here he is!

Akinfenwa comes on for his final ever match as he replaces the injured Gape.

The Beast would love to end his remarkable career with a goal at Wembley