Sunderland's players and staff celebrate in the dressing room at Wembley (Image: Ian Horrocks)
Sunderland's players and staff celebrate in the dressing room at Wembley (Image: Ian Horrocks)
REGIS LE BRIS is delighted that his faith in Tommy Watson was repaid as the teenage winger scored the stoppage-time winner that took Sunderland back to the Premier League.
When Watson agreed a move to Brighton at the start of April, there was a chance he might already have played his final game in a Sunderland shirt.
Le Bris had to decide whether or not to keep selecting the teenager in his squad, with the Black Cats’ own supporters turning against the winger.
Watson was booed off the pitch when he was substituted during Sunderland’s home defeat to Swansea, but Le Bris urged the club’s fans to back the academy product because there was a chance he could be needed before the end of the season.
Sure enough, when the Wearsiders needed a match winner at Wembley, Watson delivered, firing home from 20 yards after Kieffer Moore’s error presented him with the ball in the Sunderland half.
“It was a good statement,” said Le Bris, when asked about his backing for Watson last month. “It was probably a tough decision for him, but it was clear in our mind and in his mind that he was still a player for Sunderland.
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“I think the group and squad accepted the decision as well, knowing that he was a good player and he could help. We didn’t know what could happen. He had this opportunity this afternoon, and he took it.”
Sunderland tasted last-gasp glory when Dan Ballard scored in the 122nd minute to settle the play-off semi-final with Coventry City.
It felt unlikely that lightning would strike again, but if anything, today’s match-winning goal was even more dramatic with Watson firing home in the 95th minute.
“It was a fantastic scenario again,” said Le Bris. “The outcome was fantastic, and like in the semi-final, the scenario was absolutely fantastic as well. It was tough for our coaches, and probably tough for our fans too. But we showed a strong character again.
“Even when we are not dominant, even when we struggle, as a squad we stay connected. We stuck to our plan and knew that maybe later, during the game, we could find an opportunity to change the momentum. That turned out to be the case.”
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