Chris Coleman shared his disappointment as Liam Boyce’s stoppage-time header relegated Sunderland.
The Black Cats sit bottom of the Sky Bet Championship six adrift with two games remaining.
But with Burton Albion due to play Bolton Wanderers next weekend that means Sunderland can’t catch any of the teams above them – confirming their relegation.
“It’s a horrible feeling but a big thank you to all the supporters for turning up for us today and all season,” Coleman said.
“I’m sorry that we haven’t been good enough to fight whatever battles are in front of us and we have fallen short.
“It is a painful experience and in the way the game panned out today you wouldn’t have bet against that the way the season has gone.
“It is bitterly, bitterly disappointing.”
He continued: “If you look at the last five games where we have been in front and winning. This is the second home game in a row where we have been leading in the last five minutes.
“Pressure does different things to different people but we have not managed to get over the line.
“I don’t want to make excuses because we haven’t been good enough.
“It is a painful experience.”