Sunderland 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Story of the night as Ross Stewart goal puts Cats ahead in League One play-off semi-final
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Sunderland had chances to double their lead in the second half as Alex Pritchard hit the crossbar.
The hosts were also forced to defend their advantage in the closing stages but held onto their clean sheet.
Here’s how the match played out:
RECAP: Sunderland 1 (Stewart, 45) Sheffield Wednesday 0
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Wright, Batth, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, O’Nien, Clarke (Doyle, 90+3), Roberts (Embleton, 81), Pritchard (Matete, 81), Stewart
- Subs: Hoffmann, Doyle, Hume, Embleton, Neil, Matete, McGeady
- Sheffield Wednesday XI: Peacock-Farrell, Palmer, Storey, Dean, Hutchinson, Johnson, Byers, Luongo, Bannan, Berahino (Windass, 56), Gregory
- Subs: Wildsmith, Hunt, Dunkley, Dele-Bashiru, Mendez-Laing, Windass, Paterson
Team news
As always we’ll start with the Sunderland team news.
Neil said he will have to make a late call on Nathan Broadhead’s fitness for tonight’s match, after the forward was forced off with a muscle problem at Morecambe ast week.
Neil is hopeful Dennis Cirkin will be able to return to the squad after missing three games with a calf issue, yet Carl Winchester remains sidelined with a groin injury.
Leon Dajaku is unlikely to feature in the play-off semi finals as he steps up his recovery from illness.
It’s Matchday!
How are we all feeling then?
The play-offs are finally here with Sunderland set to host Sheffield Wednesday in the first of two huge matches tonight.
Over 43,500 are set to attend the game on Wearside, and it’s set to be a cracking atmosphere.
We’ll have all the build-up ahead of the match, as well as in-game analysis and post-match reaction from Black Cats boss Alex Neil.
Stick around and refresh the page for live updates throughout the night.