Sunderland must not repeat Championship play-off history as worrying record could see them fail in Premier League return

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As the Black Cats push for promotion back to the top flight this season after an eight-season absence, we take a look at Sunderland’s Championship play-offs record over recent years, and it makes for worrying reading.

The Championship remains one of the most exhilarating leagues to watch in football; in what other division can every side either go up or down with a handful of games to go?

Within the 2024/25 season, the race for automatic promotion became a four-horse race, with Burnley, Leeds, and Sheffield United as well as surprise-package Sunderland leading the top-two charge.

However, with the Black Cats’ fall off corresponding with the above trio gaining ground, Regis Le Bris’ side’s season will be defined in the play-offs.

Sunderland’s recent history within their play-off campaigns will make for concerning reading for the Black Cats faithful.

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Sunderland have won one of their last eight play-off campaigns

When Le Bris takes his side into the club’s eighth play-off campaign next month, the Frenchman will be hoping to etch his name into Sunderland folklore forever by achieving what many of his predecessors had failed to do.

The Black Cats have only gone up once through the play-offs, whether it be the Championship or League One, and Le Bris will be hoping to put the club’s rotten recent history in the play-offs right come May.

Sunderland’s most recent play-off campaign came in their remarkable 2022/23 Championship campaign, under now-West Brom Tony Mowbray at the helm, who took over from Alex Neil early in the season.

It was Neil only months prior who masterminded Sunderland’s first, and only, play-off victory after his side beat Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley to earn promotion back to the second tier.

Sunderland’s eight play-off attempts and how they went

EFL Analysis has taken a look at the history books to work out Sunderland’s Championship play-offs record and dissect their numerous failures over the years.

1986/87 – Division Two/Three play-off

Sunderland dropped to the third tier for the first time in the club’s history after a failed play-off attempt, in a different format to today, back in the 1986/87 season.

Club legend Bob Stokoe was in the dugout to see Sunderland, who finished third bottom in the Second Division, take on Gillingham, who had finished fifth in Division three in a home-and-away showpiece for a place in the second tier.

The Black Cats lost the first leg 3-2 at Gillingham, but returned to historic former ground Roker Park as firm favourites for a comeback. The second leg ended the tie 6-6 on aggregate with Sunderland beaten on away goals and demoted to the third tier.

1989/90 – Division Two play-offs

Sunderland were beaten in the Division Two play-offs in the 1989/90 season, after beating arch rivals Newcastle United in the semi-finals, but still ended up promoted to then-Division One. That’s the crazy game of football for you.

Fans of older generations still talk of the double-header against the Magpies, in which the first leg finished goalless at Roker Park, and the second leg at St James’ ending in a 2-0 victory for visiting Sunderland.

After two typically fierce derby clashes, Swindon Town were the final opponents who beat the Black Cats 1-0. However, a twist in the tale stung Swindon after they were found guilty of financial irregularities and demoted down a division, that saw the Black Cats promoted back to Division One in bizarre turn of events.

1997/98 – Division One play-offs

Sunderland’s first play-off penalty heartache came against Charlton during one of the most dramatic play-off fixtures to date.

The Black Cats beat the Blades 2-1 in the semi-final second-leg after a Kevin Phillips strike set up the Wembley showpiece against Charlton. That finale would live up to lofty expectations, ending 4-4 after 120 minutes on the clock.

Within the scintillating shoot-out, the first ten penalties were all scored, before club legend Michael Gray stepped up to see his effort saved and the Addicks secure a 7-6 penalty win.

2003/04 – Division One play-offs

Years later, play-off penalty tears would flow again after defeat to Crystal Palace.

Under Mick McCarthy, the Black Cats finished third in the second tier to set up a double-header against the Eagles. Palace had the advantage at 3-2 after the first leg at Selhurst Park, but Sunderland made the Stadium of Light atmosphere count and drew the tie level on aggregate after a 2-1 home win.

Palace secured a 5-4 victory on penalties to clinch promotion and deny Sunderland the chance to bounce straight back to the top flight.

2018/19 – League One play-offs

After a 15-year absence from the play-offs, Sunderland’s infamously poor recent history chronicled by Netflix, would culminate in another Charlton defeat.

Following horrifying back-to-back demotions, Sunderland’s first campaign back in League One saw Jack Ross’ side finish fifth. Two full-blooded semi-finals against Portsmouth went the Black Cats’ way to set up a reunion under the arches against the Addicks.

Red-and-white tears would flow once more, despite Charlton’s comical own goal in the opening minutes, Ross’ Sunderland side retreated too far, which saw Charlton complete the comeback Wembley victory and earn Championship status.

2020/21 – League One play-offs

Two seasons later, Sunderland’s depressing time in the third tier would continue with a semi-final against Lincoln.

Under Lee Johnson, the Black Cats finished fourth and drew Lincoln in the semi-finals, going on to lose the double-header.

A disastrous 2-0 loss in the first leg left Sunderland an insurmountable mountain to climb, despite finding the net twice in the second leg, and were condemned to another season in the third tier of English football.

2021/22 – League One play-offs

The following season, however, Sunderland’s play-off fortunes would finally change for the better.

Former Norwich City boss Neil took the reins in February from Johnson, and would spearhead Sunderland’s play-off victory.

Ross Stewart’s opener in the first leg saw Sunderland head to Hillsborough one goal to the good. What ensued in the historic home of the Owls was just as fitting, with Patrick Roberts dispatched from a Jack Clarke cross in the dying embers to send the Black Cats to Wembley.

Sunderland would comfortably beat Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe 2-0 under the arches, after goals from Elliot Embleton and Stewart, sending the 45,000 travelling Sunderland supporters into emotional raptures to regain second tier status.

2022/23 – Championship play-offs

Upon their Championship return, Sunderland threatened their fellow promotion-hunting pack and fell one game short of greatness.

Mowbray’s free-flowing, attacking side were a joy to watch all season, with Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo the jewel in Mowbray’s crown, and it was the Ivorian magician who spearheaded Sunderland’s stunning season.

In the semi-final first leg at home to Luton, an early Elijah Adebayo goal could not silence the Stadium of Light crowd, who were sent into delirium after Diallo’s long-range strike. With the Stadium of Light seats still reverberating in awe of Amad, a Trai Hume header sent Mowbray’s young Black Cats side down to Kenilworth Road 2-1 up on aggregate.

An injury-stricken Sunderland side, which saw wideman Roberts start as a makeshift full-back, could not stem the physical Luton tide, and goals from Gabriel Osho and Tom Lockyer saw the Hatters head to Wembley despite a second string Sunderland side’s valiant efforts.

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Sunderland will never have a better chance to make play-off history

All in all, Sunderland’s play-off record makes for grim reading, with the Black Cats victorious in only one of eight campaigns, and that being the League One play-off final.

History has a nasty habit of repeating itself for Sunderland, with two defeats coming against old enemy Charlton and two defeats coming in shoot-outs, the Black Cats’ season looks set to be defined in dramatic fashion.

Le Bris’ side boasts some of the league’s best young talents, as well as Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee, but the Black Cats have stuttered at precisely the worst moment.

Sunderland scorched to the second tier summit earlier this season but have faltered since the turn of the year. Le Bris’ side are on the cusp of something special, but must carve out their own place in the Black Cats’ history books next month, or be doomed to repeat the club’s recent horrific run in their play-off campaigns.

If the Black Cats fail at promotion, they will be inundated with Premier League offers for top talents such as Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg and Trai Hume and could lose them this summer, making their play-off campaign all the more crucial.