Sunderland will play play their football in the Championship next season after a 2-0 win against Wycombe Wanderers won them the League One play-off final. Two goals either side of half-time from Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart sealed the win that ended the Black Cats' four-year stay in the third-tier and ended their play-off hoodoo.
Alex Neil's decision to start local-lad Embleton over Jack Clarke paid off after just 12 minutes when the 23-year-old burst through Wanderers' midfield and fired a fierce shot straight through David Stockdale. Sunderland rode out the pressure through the middle of the game before Alex Pritchard's brilliant skill worked the ball to Stewart, who composed himself before firing a low shot through the legs of his namesake Anthony Stewart and into the bottom corner.
The win means Sunderland have now finally won a play-off final at the seventh time of asking and will play the likes of Norwich, Watford and West Bromwich Albion next year. And former Barcelona and Tottenham striker Gary Lineker posted a message of congratulations on Twitter.
READ MORE: Sunderland supporters react as Black Cats beat Wycombe to win promotion to Championship
He tweeted: "Well played and congratulations to @SunderlandAFC on winning their playoff final. Wearsiders out of the wilderness."
Videos surfaced all weekend of a sea of red and white around London's Trafalgar Square, with many at Wembley flocking back to party into the night on Saturday. There was not one free seat in the Sunderland end long after the win as the players enjoyed the moment with their loyal support.
