The Black Cats have nine lives
Two fallen giants meet at Wembley on Sunday in the EFL Trophy final. Expect there to be goals, thrills and plenty of noise with a large crowd expected.
The demise and rise
Both these sides have been through a torrid time over the last few years. Sunderland fans have witnessed their side go from a Premier League mainstay to a League One giant in just two short seasons. Back-to-back relegations left supporters disillusioned about the way their club was being run but Ellis Short has now gone and new chairman Stewart Donald has been a breath of fresh air.
Not only has the new boss supplied the funds necessary for Jack Ross to be competitive but he has also shown a level of transparency not seen at nearly every other club in the EFL.
He also made himself popular with fans by taking a hard stance against those players that were just turning up to training in order to cash their pay checks. Gone are all the players that didn’t want to be there and in are a group that works hard for each other while being proud to represent the club.
Portsmouth’s demise was more dramatic with huge financial problems sending the club spiralling down the leagues. They are on the way back now, under Kenny Jackett and will be well backed at Wembley.
Both Portsmouth and Sunderland are playing in their first ever EFL Trophy final. This will also be the first ever final in the competition between two teams to have previously played in the Premier League.
Sunderland hitting form
Sunderland have a golden opportunity to return to the Championship at the first time of asking thanks some solid form. The Black Cats are unbeaten in 16 games in the league and have won four of their last six matches. They are currently outside the automatic promotion spots, trailing second place Barnsley by five points having played two games less.
In the EFL trophy they have conceded just one goal in their seven matches this season, fewer than any other side.
Portsmouth will not be an easy opponent though. The south coast side have enjoyed a good campaign in the league and have won all seven of their EFL Trophy matches this season, with no side netting more goals in the competition than Pompey (16).
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kenny Jacket’s side score first but write of Sunderland at your peril. The Black Cats have made a habit of coming from behind in the league and could well do it at Wembley on Sunday.
Whoever wins will become only the second side to have won both the English top-flight and the EFL Trophy, with Wolverhampton Wanderers the only side to have done so so far.
The Black Cats game changers
Both sides have players capable of winning games with a moment of brilliance but in this competition Gareth Evans has stood out for Pompey, netting three times with four shots on target.
For Sunderland it has been more of a team effort. The Black Cats have had the most different goalscorers in the EFL Trophy this season (11), with Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka the only player to score more than once for the Mackms in the competition (2).
However, in Aiden McGeady and Chris Maguire Sunderland have two players that like the big occasion. Both are superb players with flair, vision and an eye for goal and either one of them could make the difference on Sunday.
Betting tip
With Portsmouth and Sunderland both having a good season this match promises to be very exciting. It is hard to imagine that either side will fail to score though Portsmouth could start on the front foot.
With that in mind, backing Sunderland to win from behind at odds of 14/1 is well worth a flutter and offers excellent value to boot.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
Portsmouth victory on penalties was just about deserved after fighting back from a poor first half. Sunderland will now put all their effort into getting promoted.