Max Power has labelled Wembley as a place for winners as Sunderland prepare to battle it out with Charlton Athletic for a place in the Championship this weekend.
The Black Cats ended the regular season in frustrating fashion, recording just one win in seven games.
However, the Lads’ resilient and determined nature returned to their veins in their Play-Off semi-final against Portsmouth as they kept successive clean sheets in the home and away legs.
While Chris Maguire provided the one moment of magic at the other end of the pitch to separate Pompey and Sunderland after 180 minutes, Power has said Sunday’s final at Wembley will be a straight shootout and may the best side win.
“We’re in really good spirits,” he said.
“To come through the Portsmouth tie was massive for us because we’ve had tough games against them all season, so to get through that tie with them was massive for us, and we go into the weekend now full of confidence.
“We know we’ve got another tough game against Charlton. They’re a good side who’ve had a really good season, but spirits are high, and training has been really good."
“Everyone knows Wembley is a place for winners and what we felt after the Portsmouth game wasn’t nice.
“We’d like to think now, we go into it on a good bit of form after Portsmouth, spirits are high again, confidence is back and the prize is there for both teams - we’re one game away from achieving what we’ve wanted all season and that’s to get out of the division.”
He continued: “Everyone wanted us to achieve automatic promotion, but we’ve now given ourselves another chance to achieve what we wanted and we into Sunday full of confidence.
“It’s a straight shoot-out between two good sides and may the best team win.”
