Chris Rigg says Sunderland’s unity and belief have powered them to Wembley – and the 17-year-old insists the focus is now firmly on completing the journey. Régis Le Bris’ side will take on Sheffield United in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final on Saturday 24th May, kick-off 3pm BST, with a place in the Premier League on the line. The Black Cats booked their spot under the Wembley arch after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate win against Coventry City last Tuesday, sealed by Dan Ballard’s last-second header in front of a bouncing Stadium of Light. While Rigg described the semi-final as the best night of his life so far, his attention has already shifted to the challenge ahead. “Sheffield United are a strong team, who were in the Premier League last season and are one game away from returning,” he said. “It’s going to be a great challenge because we have already had two good games against them this season. “Our preparations for the final are already underway and we’re looking forward to the challenge because these are the moments that matter.” Rigg also paid tribute to the red and white army who turned out in force home and away throughout the semi-final. “We felt their support from the moment we left the Academy of Light. To go away and do what we did at Coventry – it felt like there was this surge of momentum, a real wave of togetherness, and we made them proud. “I was buzzing for the game all day on Tuesday. With it being a later kick-off, the excitement just built up, and when we got into the ground, the warm-up - it was bouncing. I was so ready to play.” At just 17, Rigg now has the opportunity to walk out at Wembley Stadium with promotion to the top flight at stake. “Now it’s Wembley. I’m 17 years old – it doesn’t get much bigger than that. To walk out on a stage like that, in front of 90,000 people… it’s the kind of game you dream of being involved in.”
All I wanted, in August, was the chance for these lads to come out at Wembley … … winning would be a massive bonus but I’m happy to be there. Local kids stepping out onto that pitch, wow!
So how many times are you going to repeat that, twice is usually enough for other posters after that it starts to get very boring.
If Moore and Cannon start I would be happy . When we have had the west stand at Wembley we have won every game ! And Palace beat Man C Newcastle beat Liverpool so we must beat Sheffield U
Every Wembley trip is different and this certainly is. Speaking for myself I always knew there were, at least, three better teams than us. Some people were also pushing Coventry, Boro and Luton as being better than Sunderland. So all I expected, and hoped for, was 6th place and a bit of fun in the playoffs ... ... to actually win, and have another Wembley weekend, is fabulous. It's all I could've hoped for and, realistically, Sheffield should really win if they turn up ... whatever the case I couldn't be more proud.
Thing is, everyone hoped at the start of the season we would get to the playoffs - we got there. But what people probably didn't expect is that we would be sitting pretty in the top 4 for the whole season. We set off like a train, beating teams convincingly but we could never keep that pace up especially when the injuries hit. IMO, rightly or wrongly, we've basically consolidated since February, we were that far ahead of the rest of the league. Yes Sheffield Utd should be classed as favourites considering their league position but would we be closer to them if we didn't rest players? We'll never know. But they're not unbeatable. RLB had found ways to have the lads play and beat teams. I think we're more solid now than we were (Burnley were being praised for it) and with the attitude the players have, if we're up for it and don't let the occasion get to them, Sheffield will know they've been in a game no matter what the result.
We are so far ahead of where I thought we would be, just reaching the play offs is a huge achievement. The final is a free hit for me. We might we might not. These games are usually more or less 50/50 and so is this one. One to enjoy, not to fret about and there will be no nerves from me, weird as that must sound. I was nervous though before the Wycombe final. I dread to think what would have happened if we had managed to lose that one. We'd have lost Stewart and Neil and maybe not just those two. We wouldn't have been signing Cirkin, Ballard, Clarke or many of the others we picked up in our first season back up. We would have been almost starting again. We had to win that match and we turned up and did it under pressure. There's no pressure on us next Saturday. The pressure is all on Sheff Utd, who I believe have never made it through a play off campaign.
I work with a Boro lad. All the way through this season he’s been telling me how Sunderland won’t stay the course. How Boro would definitely get a play off spot. How Boro should have beaten us. How we would finish around 8th. How Coventry were the better side in both semi final games. I begrudgingly got a “good luck in the final but I reckon you’ll lose”.
100% agree mate. That being said i'm sure that if we win at least one person will say that we're doomed next year within 24 hours
re: onien... i mentioned last week how we saw a 'different side' to him, defended extremely well with no real 'grappling' and showed he can handle VAR. ...and yes i have griped about him myself but he has shown just how collected he can be.
Sheff Utd are favourites - nothing wrong with saying that. It’s because of their league position and points tally. It means the pressure is all on them. It’s exactly how I like it. Because it’s a one off match and being favourites means nowt. And we have the tools to beat them. Their fans seem to be less confident than we are and think that’s purely down to the fact that the pressure is all on them considering they came so close to the automatics.
Wilder clung onto the points deduction like a child's comfort blanket, infantile for a grown man tbh ... ... he'll no doubt turn up at Wembley looking like one of the groundsmen and needing a shave.
