JUST 10 YEARS ago, the 31 March final meeting of Sunderland and Portsmouth would read like an all-Premier League clash.
But Sunderland’s 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers means that they will meet Pompey in much changed circumstances.
Will Grigg and Lewis Morgan scored either side of half time in tonight’s EFL Trophy semi-final as the Black Cats booked a final date in Wembley against their League One rivals.
Some good news, finally, for Sunderland fans who have watched their club suffer successive relegations, coupled with question marks surrounding the club’s ownership, since 2017.
“We wanted to give something back to our fans for the faith they’ve shown,” said Sunderland midfielder and former academy player George Honeyman when asked what a trip to Wembley will mean to the club’s fans.
“It’ll be good, it’ll be carnage. There’ll be cheesey chips down Wembley Way. I don’t think anyone can wait to get down there now.”
Sunderland last made the trip to Wembley in 2014, when they were beaten 3-1 in the final of the League Cup against Manchester City.
They will make the trip to the English capital for just the ninth time in the club’s history on 31 March – good news for the 1,833 supporters who made the trip to Memorial Stadium this evening.
Bernard Jackman joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to discuss the backlash to World Rugby’s league proposal, captaincy styles, sports psychology and more in The42 Rugby Weekly.
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