Sunderland crush Preston to reach play-offs

3 years ago 56

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Breaking news

Sunderland sneaked into the Championship play-offs thanks to a crushing victory over Preston North End and Millwall's astonishing 4-3 defeat against Blackburn Rovers.

The Black Cats needed maximum points and for other results to go their way on the final day, and in a bewildering climax to the regular season, Tony Mowbray's side kept their part of the bargain in style as spectacular second-half strikes from Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke saw them romp to victory.

Coventry City booked the other slot thanks to a 1-1 draw away against already promoted Middlesbrough, but Millwall squandered a 3-1 advantage at home against fellow hopefuls Blackburn, meaning they missed out to the Black Cats by a point.

Sunderland will face Luton Town in the play-offs.

Monday's EFL action and reaction

More to follow.

Line-ups

Preston

Formation 3-1-4-2

1Woodman
14StoreyBooked at 4mins
5Bauer
6Lindsay
13McCann
44Potts
15ParrottSubstituted forOnomahat 56'minutes
18LedsonBooked at 84mins
2Fernández
7DelapSubstituted forWoodburnat 69'minutes
28Cannon

Substitutes

17Onomah
20Woodburn
25Cornell
31Slater
32Leigh
35Mawene
37Kamara

Sunderland

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Patterson
11GoochSubstituted forAndersonat 66'minutes
32Hume
13O'Nien
3CirkinSubstituted forPritchardat 45'minutes
24Neil
39EkwahSubstituted forLihadjiat 86'minutes
10Roberts
16DialloSubstituted forBaat 86'minutes
20Clarke
28GelhardtSubstituted forMichutat 72'minutes

Substitutes

12Bass
17Ba
18Taylor
21Pritchard
22Lihadji
25Michut
45Anderson

Referee:Robert Madley

Attendance:21,177

Live Text

Match ends, Preston North End 0, Sunderland 3.
Second Half ends, Preston North End 0, Sunderland 3.
Attempt blocked. Brad Potts (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Patrick Bauer.
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Josh Onomah (Preston North End).
Édouard Michut (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Thomas Cannon (Preston North End).
Substitution, Sunderland. Abdoullah Ba replaces Amad Diallo.
Substitution, Sunderland. Isaac Lihadji replaces Pierre Ekwah because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland).
Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
Édouard Michut (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Ledson (Preston North End).
Daniel Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ben Woodburn (Preston North End).
Édouard Michut (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ben Woodburn (Preston North End).
Substitution, Sunderland. Édouard Michut replaces Joe Gelhardt.
Offside, Sunderland. Trai Hume tries a through ball, but Patrick Roberts is caught offside.