Championship Playoffs 2022/23: Sunderland has been in the limelight among a broader audience due to the documentary Sunderland Till I Die. The club is now also making itself heard in the sporting field again. A return to the Premier League is on the horizon.
Much more than a hit series: Sunderland steps out of the shadows
Sunderland last played in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season. A year later, to make matters worse, the club descended to League One. Netflix chronicled Sunderland’s demise in the three-part documentary series Sunderland ‘Til I Die, which proved to be a huge hit. Meanwhile, sporting performance lagged behind.
That changed last season. After four years in the third tier, Sunderland finished fifth in League One and were promoted to the Championship via the play-offs. There, The Black Cats experience a successful comeback. With two games remaining, Sunderland have another play-off ticket up their hands, but this time with a return to the Premier League on the horizon.
With Millwall and Blackburn Rovers unable to win and Sunderland themselves triumphing at West Bromwich Albion, the club climbed from ninth to sixth place. This gives the right to participate in the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League in just two rounds. That would be an unprecedented success for manager Tony Mowbray.
“If we continue to deliver, there is a real opportunity to get back to where we want to be in the next few years,” said Mowbray. “We are ahead of schedule, so let’s see what this season brings us first. I actually didn’t believe we had enough experience to get to these places.”
The rise of Amad Diallo
One of the youngsters who makes a big impression this season is Amad Diallo. He was unable to break any pots last year during his loan to Rangers FC and was not considered ready by Ten Hag for the big work at Manchester United prior to the current season.
A step lower, the still only twenty-year-old Ivorian lets his feet speak. In 35 league matches he scored twelve goals and got three assists. That earned him the Championship title Player of the Month in December. And Diallo also won awards this week at his own employer. Sunderland named the United mercenary the club’s greatest talent.
What will Sunderland’s revival lead to? We will know on Monday 8 May. When The Black Cats have played Watford at home and finished the regular season. The numbers three to six in the Championship together determine who will be promoted to the Premier League with Burnley and Sheffield United.
