97 m. ago Sunderland prove comeback kings in every sense to seal dramatic Premier League return

Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland: Tommy Watson’s 95th-minute winner sent half of Wembley wild in the Championship play-off final as the Black Cats ended their eight-year exile from the top flight

Politics

2 h. ago Sunderland snatch promotion to Premier League by beating Sheffield United in playoff final

Was there a better sight than Luke O’Nien, his right arm cradled in a sling, racing down the touchline, punching the air with his left to celebrate Tommy Watson’s stoppage-time winner? Sunderland stormed back from a goal down after Tyrese Campbell’s first-half opener to return to the Premier League after eight years away.Sunderland’s performance was something of a slow-burner but ultimately found two big moments. The first was courtesy of Eliezer Mayenda, who scored with their second shot on goal, and the second will live long in the memory for both the goalscorer and those here to witness it. Watson, the 19-year-old forward who joined his boyhood club as an under-nine, stroked a wonderful shot into the bottom corner in stoppage time, extra time looming. Eventually, with 102 minutes showing on the big screens, confirmation: Sunderland are back in the big time. Continue reading...

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5 h. ago WCL and Championship playoff finals, Liverpool favourites to sign Wirtz – matchday live

Buildup to today’s major finalsLive scores | Fixtures | Get in touchManchester City wrap up their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a game Pep Guardiola believes is “by far” their most important of the season. City head to Fulham knowing a draw will almost certainly secure a top-five spot and a place in the Champions League for next season.After winning the title in the past four seasons, it is a relatively modest target but Guardiola recognises it is the least of the club’s expectations. The City manager said: “If we want to play in the Champions League, we have to take a result there. This is what we are going to do. Of course, it’s really important.” Asked if it was the most important game of the season, Guardiola said at a press conference: “By far.” Continue reading...

Sport

5 h. ago Sheffield United v Sunderland: Championship playoff final – live

Updates from the 3.01pm kick-off at WembleyGet in touch! You can email Rob hereBoth managers make two changes from the semi-final second leg. Sheffield United bring in Rhian Brewster, so impressive in the first leg against Bristol City, and Tyrese Campbell in place of Andre Brooks and Tom Cannon.Chris Rigg, 17, and Romaine Mundle start for Sunderland instead of Wilson Isidor and Patrick Roberts. Continue reading...

Sport

6 h. ago WCL and Championship playoff finals, Salah named Premier League player of the year– matchday live

Buildup to today’s major finalsLive scores | Fixtures | Get in touchManchester City wrap up their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a game Pep Guardiola believes is “by far” their most important of the season. City head to Fulham knowing a draw will almost certainly secure a top-five spot and a place in the Champions League for next season.After winning the title in the past four seasons, it is a relatively modest target but Guardiola recognises it is the least of the club’s expectations. The City manager said: “If we want to play in the Champions League, we have to take a result there. This is what we are going to do. Of course, it’s really important.” Asked if it was the most important game of the season, Guardiola said at a press conference: “By far.” Continue reading...

Sport

8 h. ago WCL and Championship playoff finals, Ronaldo ‘may play at Club World Cup’ – matchday live

Buildup to today’s major finalsLive scores | Fixtures | Get in touchManchester City wrap up their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a game Pep Guardiola believes is “by far” their most important of the season. City head to Fulham knowing a draw will almost certainly secure a top-five spot and a place in the Champions League for next season.After winning the title in the past four seasons, it is a relatively modest target but Guardiola recognises it is the least of the club’s expectations. The City manager said: “If we want to play in the Champions League, we have to take a result there. This is what we are going to do. Of course, it’s really important.” Asked if it was the most important game of the season, Guardiola said at a press conference: “By far.” Continue reading...

Society

10 h. ago WCL and Championship playoff finals, Klopp disappointed with boos for Alexander

Buildup to today’s major finalsLive scores | Fixtures | Email EmilliaManchester City wrap up their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a game Pep Guardiola believes is “by far” their most important of the season. City head to Fulham knowing a draw will almost certainly secure a top-five spot and a place in the Champions League for next season.After winning the title in the past four seasons, it is a relatively modest target but Guardiola recognises it is the least of the club’s expectations. The City manager said: “If we want to play in the Champions League, we have to take a result there. This is what we are going to do. Of course, it’s really important.” Asked if it was the most important game of the season, Guardiola said at a press conference: “By far.” Continue reading...

Sport

3 d. ago Why the Championship playoff final will kick off one minute late

All three EFL play-off finals this weekend will kick off one minute later than previously planned in honour of an important cause

Sport

1 week ago O’Hare lands last blow on Bristol City as Sheffield United barrel into playoff final

For a side with such a horrendous record in the EFL playoffs, the way Sheffield United coasted through their semi-final’s two legs into the Championship’s showpiece game at Wembley did little to suggest they are a team with a hoodoo hanging over their heads.In many ways, history is stacked against the Blades: nine previous attempts at the playoffs, five semi-final defeats and four heartbreaking final losses. But if there was one crumb of comfort for manager Chris Wilder and his side in missing out on automatic promotion with a couple of games to spare, it was the fact that they had time to regather themselves and prepare for the playoffs. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Sunderland vs Coventry City: How to watch EFL Championship playoffs, TV and streaming details, kick off, odds

Sunderland host Coventry City this week as the teams bid to reach the final of the EFL Championship playoff and, in turn, the English Premier League.

Sport

2 w. ago Sheffield United hammer Bristol City to put one foot in Championship playoff final

BRISTOL CITY 0-3 SHEFFIELD UNITED: Rob Dickie's red card cost the Robins dear as Harrison Burrows converted from the spot and the Blades scored twice more after the break

Sport

3 w. ago Championship final day: title, playoff and relegation places to be decided – live

Championship updates from 12.30pm BST kick-offsLive scores | Latest tables | Relegation lurks for quintetPortsmouth (4-2-3-1) Killip; Devlin, Shaughnessy, Atkinson, Ogilvie; Potts, Lang; Blair, Pack, Murphy; Bishop.Subs: Schmid, Poole, Bramall, Dozzell, Hayden, Gordon, Ritchie, Saydee, O’Mahony.Hull (4-2-3-1) Pandur; Lewie Coyle, Egan, Hughes, McLoughlin; Crooks, Puerta; Kamara, Gelhardt, Joseph; Joao Pedro.Subs: Lo-Tutala, Jones, Lincoln, Burns, Alzate, Drameh, Amrabat, Palmer, Burstow. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Football Daily | It’s a right royal rumble down at the bottom of the Championship

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!While the last of this season’s three Premier League relegation spots was confirmed the moment referee John Brooks blew his whistle to signal the end of the Championship playoff final between Leeds and Southampton 11 months ago, the late scramble to avoid the bottom three in the second tier has been thrilling by comparison. It couldn’t not be, given that five of the six teams battling to stay out of the two remaining places in the drop zone at stumps on Saturday have each notched up more than the 10 victories Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich have managed between them.I told them, and I’m not exaggerating here, ‘Guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your T-shirts, and let’s play every ball together. We want to do something special’. That place has to be something that we haven’t seen before” – John Sitton Mikel Arteta apparently wants Arsenal fans to go the full John Terry when they take on PSG in the first leg of their ...

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