Sunderland once again find themselves in the playoff semifinals. Their ninth time will see them face Coventry City who finished in 5th place on the final day of the league season. The first game of a two-leg semifinal will take place on Friday night at Coventry’s home ground the Coventry Building Society Arena
Down the years, Sunderland’s playoff semifinal 1st leg history has been a mixed bag of results. All have brought nerves, some hope, and some despair. Here is a look back at the Black Cats’ history in the first game of the playoff semifinals.
Read More: Five Things You May Not Have Known About Roker Park
Sunderland’s Playoff Semi-final First Leg History: Nerves, Hope and Despair
1987: Lost 3-2 Away vs Gillingham
1987 was the worst year in Sunderland’s history. Manager Lawrie McMenemy had departed just weeks prior to this game with relegation looking a certainty. FA Cup hero Bob Stokoe was tasked with coming up with a miracle. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t get the Black Cats away from third bottom and a playoff place that would see them face Gillingham from the third tier in a semi-final over two games.
Sunderland goalkeeper Ian Hesford had a nightmare game, being at fault for two goals after the Black Cats had taken the lead. Gillingham striker Tony Cascarino scored a third to complete his hat trick but midfielder Mark Proctor gave Sunderland fans hope with his second of the game. With away goals counting, Sunderland had a slight edge going into the second leg. However, that hope would soon turn to despair.
1990: Drew 0-0 at Home vs Newcastle United
Nerves and hope were in equal measure as the two bitter rivals clashed. Magpie fans believed they had the advantage due to having the second leg at home, however, that game would turn out to be a glorious night for Black Cat fans and a nightmare for those on Tyneside.
The first leg was a poor game with maybe that hope and nerves coming from the fans affecting those on the pitch. Chances were few and far between with the only drama coming late in the game. Sunderland were awarded a penalty but Newcastle keeper John Burridge saved Paul Hardyman’s spot kick. Hardyman and Burridge clashed as the Sunderland man attempted to score the rebound; however, the keeper got there first resulting in Hardyman kicking him instead of the ball. He was sent off and suspended for the second leg.
Newcastle fans celebrated the draw like a huge victory. But they did this way too soon as the Black Cats had the last laugh as they went into enemy territory and came away with a 2-0 win despite a pitch invasion from the hosts in an attempt to get the game called off.
1998: Lost 2-1 Away vs Sheffield United
Despite finishing on 90 points, Peter Reid’s men had to settle for third place and a playoff semi-final against Sheffield United who finished 16 points behind the Black Cats. Anyone thinking this would be a formality would be wrong.
A Kevin Ball strike gave Sunderland the lead and all appeared to be going to plan. However, despite Sunderland’s power going forward, there were occasional lapses of concentration in defence, especially from goalkeeper Lionel Perez. The Frenchman was an excellent shot stopper but crosses and balls into the penalty area were his Achilles heel.
In the second half, United rallied and equalised before the hour. A corner was not cut out and Marcelo scored a tap-in. With 15 minutes to play, United won a free kick in a position where a cross would be the most likely. Vassilis Borbokis took everyone by surprise by curling the ball towards goal. It evaded everyone including Perez to give the Blades a first leg victory.
The Black Cats would get their revenge in the second leg with Perez in outstanding form to book their place at Wembley to play in one of the greatest games to have been played there. Unfortunately, Perez’s Achilles heel was back for the final.
2004: Lost 3-2 Away vs Crystal Palace
A year on from being relegated from the Premier League with just 19 points, Sunderland had a chance to make an immediate return. The Black Cats under the leadership of Mich McCarthy would once again finish third in England’s second tier and would face Iain Dowie’s Crystal Palace.
A thrilling second half at Selhurst Park saw five goals and Crystal Palace edge Sunderland to take a slender lead into the second leg at the Stadium of Light.
A Marcus Stewart penalty put the Black Cats ahead only for Palace to equalise almost immediately through their striker Neil Shipperley. A deflected shot then put the hosts ahead on 64 minutes. With time running out Sunderland won a free kick which resulted in a melee inside the Palace box until forward Kevin Kyle fired in the equaliser. But like earlier in the game, as soon as Sunderland scored the Eagles would reply almost instantly, this time through Andy Johnson.
The second leg was a game few will regret. For Sunderland fans though, it was for the wrong reasons.
2019: Won 1-0 at Home vs Portsmouth
Sunderland were playing only their second season in England’s third tier and were desperate for an immediate return to the Championship. Despite being beaten just five times, 19 draws put the automatic promotion places just out of reach. Therefore another playoff semi-final would be played on Wearside.
It took the game until the second half to give fans a goal and a controversial moment. Substitute Chris Maguire scored an excellent volley just four minutes after coming onto the field to give his team the lead and the victory. However, Sunderland had to play more than 20 minutes with 10 men as defender Alim Öztürk was sent off after he was judged to have denied Pompey a goal-scoring opportunity. Despite the visitor’s best efforts, the Black Cats took a slender lead into the second leg.
2021: Lost 2-0 Away vs Lincoln City
COVID-19 restrictions meant that just over three thousand socially distanced fans were in attendance for this League One Playoff semifinal 1st leg. Ten Thousand were allowed into the Stadium of Light for the return game.
Four defeats in their last eight games condemned the Black Cats to fourth place and face Lincoln City who finished on the same number of points.
Two second-half goals from Lincoln gave Sunderland an uphill battle going into the second leg. Despite the defeat, Black Cats manager Lee Johnson was optimistic following the game. He said: “I am obviously disappointed, but I truly believe we can still do it. We need to have a big, big night on Saturday. The 2-0 loss gives us no room for error whatsoever. We will have to take the game from the start and we know what we’ve got to do. We are still in this.”
Sunderland would win the second leg but lose 3-2 on aggregate to give fans yet another season in League One to endure.
2022: Won 1-0 at Home vs Sheffield Wednesday
Following a 6-0 away defeat at Bolton in January, hopes of promotion were far from anyone’s mind. Lee Johnson was sacked and replaced by Alex Neil. One defeat in 15 games gave Sunderland a fifth-placed finish, momentum, and renewed hope going into their semifinal against Sheffield Wednesday.
Almost forty-five thousand, a record for an EFL playoff semi-final roared on their team as they looked to take an advantage with them to Hillsborough. The Black Cats took the game to the visitors but it took them until the stroke of halftime to break the deadlock. Top scorer Ross Stewart raced through on goal and scored from his second attempt after the Owls keeper saved his first shot. It was enough to give Sunderland the victory, but it could have been doubled late on with Stewart firing wide after the Wednesday keeper made a mistake to give the Scottish forward a glorious chance.
2023: Won 2-1 at Home vs Luton Town
One year on from their playoff victory at Wembley, Sunderland were once again in the playoffs. This time for the chance to gain promotion back to the Premier League. Alex Neil had left the club early in the season to take charge of Stoke City with Tony Mowbray replacing him. Mowbray had got his young team playing some of the best football seen at the Stadium of Light for some years despite being without their main striker Ross Stewart for much of the season.
The Black Cats gatecrashed the playoffs on the final day of the season after a 3-0 victory at Preston. Few expected Mowbray’s men to be playoff contenders in their first season back in the Championship but they were not about to take it easy now they had a chance at promotion.
Luton took the lead early in the game but a stunning left-foot curler into the top corner from Amad Diallo leveled the scores. Sunderland went in search of the winner in the second half, coming close several times. Eventually, they got their reward. Jack Clarke crossed for fullback Trai Hume to bullet a header beyond the Luton keeper.
Read More: Sunderland Playoff Second Leg History
