Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien sends three-word warning to Sheffield United ahead of Championship play-off final

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Sunderland are heading to Wembley for the Championship play-off final, as Regis Le Bris looks to take the Wearsiders back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Dan Ballard’s dramatic last-minute equaliser saw the Black Cats defeat Coventry City on aggregate, after Ephron Mason-Clark had handed Frank Lampard’s side a lifeline before extra-time.

It was a simply incredible Championship play-off moment, and pandemonium ensued at the Stadium of Light as the defender’s header cannoned off the underside of the bar and into the back of Ben Wilson’s net.

However, Sunderland now have to prepare for the challenge of Sheffield United in the final at Wembley on May 24, and Luke O’Nien is keen to ensure that both himself and the rest of his team are ready to face Chris Wilder’s side.

Luke O’Nien sends strong message to Sheffield United as Sunderland aim for promotion

Following his side’s exit, Lampard was very emotional but he was quick to offer his congratulations to the Black Cats who now have an extremely difficult task at hand of seeing off the Blades at Wembley.

However, Sunderland centre-back O’Nien is not ready to rest on his laurels and once the emotion of Tuesday wears off, full focus will turn to the final and extend Sheffield United’s play-off pain.

The 30-year-old has never played in the Premier League before, and he is excited at the opportunity of facing the Blades at Wembley.

Speaking after the game, he said to Sky Sports: “I don’t think we’re going to do much tonight, I think we’ll just enjoy it tonight and then go home and get ready for the final.

“You don’t need to quiet anything down tonight, enjoy it, these moments don’t come around often. My little girl should be in bed but there she is up there. But no, don’t quieten down, we’ll come good and we’ll focus when it comes to the final.”

Luke O’Nien has a huge task to contain Kieffer Moore at Wembley

The number of crosses that Coventry put into the box will have already prepared O’Nien for the challenge that awaits him in the form of Kieffer Moore, who Bristol City struggled against.

Sunderland must find a way to stop the striker from controlling the game at Wembley as his experience in leading the line will be tough to match, despite the excellent performances of Ballard and O’Nien on Tuesday.

He will look to separate the two, and allow either Tom Cannon or Tyreece Campbell the space to move in and have a chance at finding the back of the net. Therefore he must be contained and not be given the opportunity to dictate play.

Nonetheless, these are plans that will be worked on as Le Bris looks for a better performance in the Championship play-off final.