Sheffield United vs Sunderland LIVE: Black Cats snatch 95th-minute winner to seal Premier League return
Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland: The Black Cats staged the late show once again in the play-offs to return to the top-flight
Tom Watson fired in the greatest parting gift Sunderland could ask for as his 95th-minute play-off final winner sealed the Black Cats’ return to the Premier League.
Sunderland snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, having been roundly dominated by Sheffield United for much of the contest. The Blades took a deserving first-half lead through Tyrese Campbell before seeing a second chalked off for offside.
But after Eliezer Mayenda blasted home a crucial equaliser 14 minutes from time, Brighton-bound Watson slotted home a perfectly-placed effort in stoppage time to send Sunderland into bedlam and deliver promotion on Wearside.
Follow all of the latest from the Championship play-off final with our live blog below:
GOAL! Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland (Campbell, 25')
A LIGHTNING COUNTER ATTACK FROM THE BLADES!
It was a Sunderland corner, but Sheffield United break away and it’s Hamer, all alone, who shows incredible determination to get there first.
He then threads the needle to find Campbell, who dinks the keeper like it’s nothing.
Fully deserved from Sheffield United - but it came just as Sunderland looked to be getting a foothold.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
24 mins: Mayenda bursts into life to bring about Sunderland’s first real moment of promise, driving into the box before winning a corner.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
22 mins: The Sheffield United supporters breaking into applause as a tribute for Blades legend George Baldock.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
20 mins: Eight days ago in the FA Cup final, we watched Manchester City dominate for the first 15-or-so minutes, but fail to capitalise on early pressure by scoring. Of course, that detrimental as Crystal Palace went on to win 1-0.
Sunderland know it can’t continue like this. But they’ll take solace from the fact the final is still goalless and might be looking to Palace’s exploits from inspiration.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
17 mins: First time in the final third for Sunderland as Jobe drifts through the middle before putting it wide for Mundle, who wins a corner.
They showed they can be a threat from set-pieces against Coventry - but Cooper claims and tries to spark a counter.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
14 mins: Sunderland are showing real uncertainty when defending. Meanwhile, Sheffield United are winning every second ball and are playing with real confidence.
A deflected Rhian Brewster cross looked simple to clear, only for Mepham to slip - allowing the striker to retrieve and have a shot.
It’s blocked and Sunderland do clear.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
10 mins: Sunderland are finally seeing some of the ball.
So far it has been all Blades, with Hamer at the heart of their forward flurries.
'That was cruel for O'Nien'
That was cruel for Luke O'Nien, a veteran of over 300 games for Sunderland. This was the biggest but also - given that his participation in effect ended after about 75 seconds - one of the shortest. On comes Chris Mepham, who was sent off against United earlier this season.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
7 mins: Chris Mepham is coming on. A more than capable replacement, with 61 Premier League appearances under his belt.
But that is a major blow.
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
4 mins: This has not been a good start for Sunderland - and it’s about to get worse.
O’Nien landed badly and looks to have seriously hurt his shoulder. He’s a tough cookie -but when he looks in pain, that usually tells you enough.
Sunderland are about to lose one of their biggest leaders inside the first five minutes. The magic pen is out, with agony etched on O’Nien’s face.
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