Sunderland secured promotion to the Premier League after beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final.
Sunderland beat Sheffield United 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday in the Championship play-off final to book their return to Premier League football.
The Black Cats’ comeback victory over the Blades was a fitting conclusion to the dramatic 2024/25 campaign and a great advert for the entertainment Championship football provides.
Game-defining saves, goals disallowed by VAR, full-blooded tackles, and stunning strikes of individual quality were on display under the Wembley arch before Brighton-bound Tommy Watson completed the perfect end to his Sunderland story with his deft match-winner.
From minute one on the clock to full-time, it was goalkeeper Anthony Patterson who Sunderland fans had to thank the most, after his man-of-the-match display inspired the Black Cats’ victory.
Patterson’s season culminated in a colossal performance, but the 24/25 season has not always been as positive for the Sunderland shot stopper.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Anthony Patterson proved his Sunderland doubters wrong in play-off final win
Academy of Light graduate turned first-team goalkeeper Patterson has endured a testing campaign between the sticks for Sunderland.
Patterson has made occasional errors this season, namely in Regis Le Bris’ first defeat at the Stadium of Light against Hull City in February, when Patterson’s failure to claim a cross cost his side the game.
Patterson has been a polarising figure for the Sunderland faithful, capable of keeping out some stellar strikes, while being equally capable of making unfortunate mistakes that lead to goals conceded.
Sunderland supporters have questioned his ability to command his box and his distribution throughout the campaign, with some labelling him the weak link in the side, despite Patterson keeping 14 clean sheets in 42 Championship games ahead of the play-off campaign.
In the play-off final against the Blades, however, those doubters were silenced by Patterson’s heroics in goal.
With only a minute played, a teasing Gus Hamer cross was met by a towering header from Blades forward Kieffer Moore, which Patterson miraculously clawed out to rescue Sunderland in the early exchanges.
In the second-half, after a mistake by Dennis Cirkin, substitute Andre Brooks was denied by the outstretched leg of Patterson minutes before Eliezer Mayenda’s equaliser.
Sunderland would be playing Championship football again next season, if it were not for the gargantuan efforts of the academy graduate, who cemented himself alongside some Sunderland goalkeeping greats after his game-saving performance under the Wembley arch.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Anthony Patterson now joins list of Sunderland goalkeeping greats
Sunderland AFC, and great goalkeepers, have been a historical match made in heaven.
Jimmy Montgomery is the shot-stopping icon that jumps to mind for Black Cats supporters, with Montgomery making a record 627 appearances for his boyhood club, with his most memorable contribution the stunning double save in the club’s 1973 FA Cup final victory over Leeds United.
In recent times, academy graduate Jordan Pickford has gone on to become one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and on the international stage for England, after Everton shelled out £30million to Sunderland for his services in 2017.
Sunderland goalkeepers Sunderland appearances Time at club
Jimmy Montgomery 627 1960-1977
Jordan Pickford 35 2002-2017
Anthony Patterson 166 2013-present
How Anthony Patterson ranks amongst Sunderland goalkeeping legends
Whether Patterson reaches the calibre of Montgomery and Pickford remains to be seen, but his Wembley heroics have etched his name into Sunderland folklore forever, in a fitting final rebuttal to his doubters this season.