Sunderland VS Sheffield Wednesday – Match Preview

Sunderland host Sheffield Wednesday at the Stadium of Light in front of a bumper crowd in the Play-off semi-final first leg.

Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday are set to smash the EFL play-off attendance record with an amazing 75,000-80,000 expected over the 2 legs.

Both sides finished the season strongly, Sunderland are unbeaten in their last 15 games and had the best end of the season form in league 1 as they accomplished the Play-offs in the final game of the season with a 1-0 victory over Morecambe.

Wednesday won 4 of their final 5 matches, losing just one as they finished in 4th, 1 place above the Black Cats’.

Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan has been in fantastic form this season and it will be touch and go whether he will feature tonight due to an injury he sustained in the final day victory over Portsmouth.

Sunderland’s Nathan Broadhead, who scored the winner against Morecambe also had to be subbed off and Alex Neil refused to comment on whether he will be fit for the match tonight.

The Black Cats’have been in league 1 for four seasons now and they will be desperate to make it out of this league as soon as possible.

Sheffield Wednesday are also a club who are too big for this league and that’s why it’s set to be a real special occasion.

Sunderland’s play-off record isn’t great as they have failed to be promoted through them on every attempt.

But the fans will be hoping that there’s a first time for everything.

Team News

Alex Neil is expected to have around the same squad available as he did for the Morecambe game.

Nathan Broadhead is the only doubt, and a late call will be made for him on whether he will be able to be involved.

Prediction

Score – Sunderland 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Scorers – Ross Stewart and Alex Pritchard