Former Sunderland legend Gary Bennett hailed manager Alex Neil for finally ending the Black Cats' Wembley play-off final hoodoo. Bennett was a member of the first Sunderland side that tasted play-off anguish at the national stadium against Swindon in 1990 when Alan McLoughlin’s shot deflected off him to decide a 1-0 defeat,
And, although Denis Smith's men subsequently went up to the top flight anyway due to the Wiltshire side being found guilty of making illegal payments to players, the game was subsequently followed by two further agonising trips to the capital for gut-wrenching one-off promotion contest losses.
In 1998, the club were denied a place in the top-flight by Charlton on penalties and, three years ago, the Addicks piled on the misery again following a 2-1 defeat under the arch in the League One final.
