Sunderland’s record in the play-offs as another may beckon

Sunderland have had their fair share of play-off dramas in that span and most of it was showered in disappointment. It wasn't until their League One play-off triumph over Sheffield Wednesday last year that the Black Cats actually conquered the system.

Now in the Championship where they are striving to make the promised land of a Premier League return, it looks as if the best way to the summit this term will be via the play-offs.

Sunderland have a lot of work to do to get there, and they are at a heavy odds against price at bookmakers listed at https://legalbet.uk/bookmakers/ to actually get promoted.

For now, we look back at Sunderland’s previous play-off challenges.

2021/22 League One play-offs

Sunderland finished fifth in the 2021/22 League One campaign. That put them through to the play-off semi-final against fourth-placed Sheffield Wednesday. It wasn’t an easy tie, with the Owls bang in form, having won four of their final five matches of the regular season.

Sunderland’s Ross Stewart gave the Mackems a first-leg advantage before a 90th-minute strike by Patrick Roberts at Hillsborough settled the second leg at 1-1 putting Sunderland through to the Final.

There they met Wycome where goals from Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart gave Sunderland a comfortable 2-0 victory to climb to the second tier. It was the first time that the club had enjoyed play-off success.

2020/21 League One play-offs

Just the year before that, the Black Cats had made it into the League One Play-offs too. But a 2-0 collapse in the first leg away at Lincoln completely took their challenge off the rails at the first hurdle.

Sunderland couldn’t do enough to recover, despite winning the reverse fixture back at the Stadium of Light. The play-off collapse came after their end-of-season form had badly slumped, winning only one of their final eight matches. The lack of momentum and confidence was evident.

2018-19 League One play-offs

The first experience that Sunderland had in the league one play-offs ended in the Final in 2019. The Black Cats had fought their way to a fifth-place finish in the league, which put them up against Portsmouth in the semi-finals. A strike from Chris Maguire in the first leg at home was the only goal of the close tie.

Sunderland fans poured into Wembley at the hope of promotion, but were left distraught despite a bright start made by Sunderland. The Black Cats had taken the lead against Charlton in the fifth minute.

But Charlton found a second-half equaliser and then struck a 90th-minute winner to sink the Black Cats. That had been Sunderland’s first season back in the third tier since the 1987/88 season. It was a huge missed opportunity to bounce straight back up.

2003-04 Division One play-offs

Mick McCarthy’s Sunderland made the old Division One play-offs in the 2003/04 season. It was a memorable semi-final tie against Crystal Palace in which they bowed out. At Selhurst Park, Sunderland had been sunk 3-2 in a cracker of a game, which was played in a brilliant atmosphere.

Sunderland were in full control in the second leg back at home, taking a 2-0 lead against a 10-man Palace. But the Eagles popped up with a 90th-minute goal to then eliminate Sunderland in a penalty shoot-out.

The Black Cats had finished third in the regular standings and were favourites for the tie. Crystal Palace weren't even in the play-off picture at the start of the year but came on strong to snatch sixth place.

1997-98 Division One play-offs

Sunderland finished third in the 1997/98 Division One campaign and had comfortably eased their way past Sheffield United to book a place in the Final. A lot of fans will remember what happened at Wembley in that Play-Off Final.

It was what the play-offs are supposed to be all about, high drama, tension and excitement. The play-off Final against Charlton saw the game continue to swing one way and then another.

Charlton took the lead before Sunderland hit back through Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips in the second half. Charlton equalised before Quinn netted again, but once again Sunderland couldn’t hold the lead.

The game went to extra time when once against Sunderland were pegged back after taking the lead. The match stayed at 4-4 and Charlton went on to win a fantastic shoot out 7-6.

1989-90 Division Two play-offs

The first taste of play-off action that came Sunderland’s way was in 1990 when they made it into the Division Two conclusion. It was a great tie against northeast rivals Newcastle that they went into as well.

After a 0-0 draw at Roker Park, Sunderland raided St James’ Park with a 2-0 victory. They moved through to face Swindon, who won the Final 1-0. However, Sunderland ultimately got promoted to League One after Swindon were penalised for financial irregularities.

Can the Black Cats make the 2022/23 play-offs?

The door is not totally closed on another play-off campaign for Sunderland this term. If there’s one thing that the Championship has proven season after season, is that the run to make the play-offs is unpredictable and can go right down to the wire.

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