Ross Stewart's 25th goal of the season means it is advantage Sunderland heading into the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday. The Black Cats head to Hillsborough on Monday with a slender single-goal lead following the first leg at the Stadium of Light, with the game on Wearside watched by a crowd of more than 44,700 - a record attendance for a play-off semi-final.
Stewart forced Wednesday defender Sam Hutchinson into a mistake in injury-time at the end of the first period, and ruthlessly punished the error. Sunderland could have added further goals in the second period as Alex Pritchard hit the woodwork, and Dennis Cirkin headed an excellent chance over the bar.
But one goal gives Alex Neil's men the edge, although their job is far from done and they will have a battle on their hands in South Yorkshire if they are to book a place in the Wembley final against either Wycombe or MK Dons. Neil made two changes to the side that won at Morecambe on the final day of the regular season.
