Jack Ross was left deeply disappointed as Sunderland’s season came to a end in the most heart breaking way.
Patrick Bauer netted a winner deep into injury time as Charlton Athletic ran out 2-1 winners to book their place in the Sky Bet Championship next season.
The Black Cats went ahead early on when Naby Sarr’s back pass wasn’t dealt with by Dillion Phillips after just five minutes.
But Charlton regrouped and came back into it when Ben Purrington touched home Lyle Taylor’s ball across the face of goal.
From there it was nip and tuck as both sides traded blows, but there was to be one final twist as extra-time loomed.
Sunderland failed to clear a cross from the left deep into stoppage time and won it through Bauer who slotted home into the most dramatic of circumstances.
“It’s a sore way to lose a football match and an occasion like today,” he said.
“The players didn’t deserve to lose the game in that manner after the way we’d gone into the game and what we’d put into the season.
“I would like to congratulate Charlton on their promotion and we now need to dust ourselves down in the coming weeks.”
