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Stewart secures promotion joy for Sunderland

By Craig Hope

AFTER four torturous years in England’s third tier during which Sunderland have continually redefined the club’s lowest ebb, here was the day when the pain made way for pride and, finally, promotion.

With it, the burial of a jinx that meant any supporter yet to celebrate their 50th birthday had never witnessed their team win at Wembley, at least in person. Last year’s Football League Trophy victory — to end a run of eight straight defeats here — was behind closed doors.

Not this time. There were 46,000 present to testify that this was real, and their flares turned the air red after goals in each half from Elliot Embleton and former Ross County striker Ross Stewart. In the past, those same fans would have been turning the Wembley air blue.

And what a sight it was, their noise and number hardly in keeping with a League One setting. That is because Sunderland should never have been in this division in the first place. The worry was that the big fish was beginning to fit its new surrounds.

Not now, though. They are free from captivity and back in the Championship. It is a conversation for another day, but the Premier League is where this club truly belongs. With former Hamilton boss Alex Neil (below), they look to have a manager capable of taking them there, albeit ownership issues need urgently resolved.

But what an appointment the Scot has proved to be, even if he was not first choice for the job in February. Perhaps Roy Keane’s rejection and Neil’s arrival was a rare stroke of good fortune for a club who have been beset by bad karma in recent years. This was a 16th match unbeaten under the 40-year-old’s charge.

‘People love sticking the boot into a fallen giant,’ said Neil. ‘It’s all, “This is c**p, that is c**p”. It was such a challenge coming here. The club has hoovered up managers and it’s been tough for people. But I always had confidence.

‘People think I’m miserable, I’m not. I don’t dance about. But I am so happy today to deliver for so many people who it really matters to.’

Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe, so went the pre-match analysis, would try to bully opponents of superior quality. But to intimidate someone you first must catch them, and Wycombe spent the opening 10 minutes chasing shadows.

They really were in a spin by the time Sunderland took the lead. Not that it looked like being a goal when midfielder Embleton collected the ball inside his own half.

He started running, taking out two blue jerseys on halfway, and did not stop until dispatching goalwards from 25 yards. Had he shot too early? For goalkeeper David Stockdale it was certainly too soon. Yes, the ball shifted midflight, but Stockdale wore the panicked look of a jumbo jet coming his way and duly flapped at fresh air.

Wycombe were always likely to nick one chance and they had it when Sam Vokes pounced on a mistake by Bailey Wright on the hour. In on goal, the Wales striker could not arrange his feet quickly enough and Anthony Patterson smothered.

The promotion-sealing goal arrived 12 minutes from time when Stewart stole room for a shot and rolled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Stewart felt Sunderland were well worth their win, saying: ‘You couldn’t have chosen a better way to do it. Its an unbelievable feeling. You look at that crowd, that’s what it’s all about.

‘I think we are a confident group but, at the same time, we respected our opponents. I think you saw we were excellent and it was thoroughly deserved.

‘The first goal was huge. To get it so early settled us down.

For large parts we were comfortable and to get the second goal brought us home.’

Football

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2022-05-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

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