The wait is almost over.
- 'Sunday is for the fans' - Lee Cattermole
- Watch: Lynden Gooch's Wembley preview
- Sold out: Checkatrade Trophy tickets snapped up
This weekend, more than 40,000 Sunderland fans #wontbehomefortea as they make the journey to Wembley for the club’s Checkatrade Trophy Final against Portsmouth.
Facing their rivals for promotion to the Sky Bet Championship, Jack Ross will be looking to land his first piece of silverware as manager since joining from Scottish Premier League club St Mirren in the summer.
It would also be a landmark occasion for Sunderland, who last enjoyed Wembley success back in 1973 when the lads famously defeated Leeds United to lift the FA Cup for the second time in the club’s history, thanks to Ian Porterfield’s strike and Jim Montgomery’s legendary double save.
Now almost 50 years on, triumph at the national stadium has eluded the lads in red and white having tasted defeat on all five of their last trips.
While the memories of previous weekends in the capital still get spoken about to this day, the all-important 90 minutes has ultimately ended in disappointment, with Fabio Borini’s strike in 2014 later cancelled out by three Manchester City goals to hand them the Capital One Cup on Sunderland’s last visit.
This weekend’s cup final, however, paints a very different picture of where the club’s at…
Having endured back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One, the club has enjoyed better times in the last few months with an immediate return to the second-tier of English football still to play for with nine league games left.
With a Wembley final also on the list of achievements, it’s now down to the players to deliver at the business stage of the season to ensure the upwards curve continues to head north.
So, how did the lads book their place at Wembley?
Ross’ side eased through group A unbeaten after wins over Carlisle United and Morcambe.
Knockout victories followed against Notts County, Newcastle United under-21s and Manchester City’s young guns before goals from Will Grigg and Lewis Morgan saw the lads defeat Bristol Rovers earlier this month in the semi-final.
Having conceded just one goal in seven matches in the tournament, the mood in the camp is positive with the lads also unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions.
However, Sunderland will be without Duncan Watmore and Chris Maguire for the final. Watmore is set to miss the remainder of the season after picking up an ankle injury at Wycombe Wanderers while Maguire’s fractured fibula is keeping him sidelined.
Will Grigg is set to recover in time despite missing international duty while there is some concern over Adam Matthews, who was forced off in the final minutes of the last league match.
Sunday’s opposition, Portsmouth, also topped their group with three wins as they saw off Tottenham Hotspur under-21s, Gillingham and Crawley Town.
Victories over Arsenal’s second string and then Southend United proceeded the group stages before a slender 1-0 win at home to Peterborough United kept their cup dream alive to set-up a semi-final trip to Bury.
And Kenny Jackett’s side comfortably brushed aside the League Two challengers 3-0 in February to tee up the Wembley showdown with Sunderland.
KEY INFORMATION FOR THE WEEKEND
All you need to know about what you can and can’t take into Wembley Stadium with you can be found – here.
DON’T MISS A KICK
Unable to get to London for the final, don’t worry! You can head to the Stadium of Light for a special live screening of the match in Black Cats Bar. Tickets are still on sale and available for just £5.
Click here for more information.
BBC Radio Newcastle’s Nick Barnes will be broadcasting live right here on safc.com from 1pm.
As ever, there will be comprehensive coverage across our digital channels including safc.com’s matchday blog and live updates on Twitter via @SunderlandAFC.
