A decade and a half on, a certain generation of Sunderland fans still go misty-eyed when recalling the early Roy Keane era on Wearside. One of the many things that sticks in the memory was the ability of his teams to score crucial late goals.
That sense of a side pushing right to the final whistle, winning games that looked destined for a draw or drawing games when they looked to be heading for defeat, was reminiscent of the great Manchester United teams in which Keane played under Sir Alex Ferguson and which added the term 'Fergietime' to the football lexicon. Under Keane, there was a long list of vital late goals in Sunderland's 2006-07 promotion season from the Championship, including winners at Southampton, Derby, Hull, Barnsley, and Burnley, and numerous equalisers scored in the nick of time.
It carried on the following season in the Premier League, with Sunderland scoring inside the final ten minutes to win against Spurs, Derby, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough, along with several late equalisers. Those points tipped the balance in both campaigns, helping Keane's side first to promotion and then to secure survival in the top flight.
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In recent weeks, under Alex Neil, Sunderland have rediscovered that happy knack, and it is making all the difference in their play-off challenge. Elliot Embleton's 89th minute winner at Oxford United this weekend continued a run that has now seen the Black Cats score in the final ten minutes eight times in their last eight games - a run which has seen Sunderland win five and draw three.
Nathan Broadhead scored in injury-time to sink Gillingham last Saturday, Dan Neil and Patrick Roberts saw off basement side Crewe, Luke O'Nien and Jack Clarke did the same to Fleetwood, Ross Stewart's late penalty rounded off a 3-0 win at Wigan, and Stewart also snatched a late point with an equaliser against Burton. Those late goals have collectively been worth nine points to Sunderland; it is no exaggeration to say that their play-off hopes would be as good as over without them.
Instead, Sunderland are sixth in the table and on course to secure a play-off spot and another crack at promotion. Their victory at Oxford was hard-fought and, for long spells, appeared unlikely.
Skipper Corry Evans had put them ahead early on after Oxford had failed to deal with a set-piece, only for Elliott Moore to take advantage of some generous marking at a free-kick to head the hosts level before half-time. Sunderland were second-best in midfield in the first period, with Neil sending on O'Nien in place of Roberts at the interval in an attempt to turn the tide.
And it worked to an extent, although Oxford still looked the more likely side to find a winning goal and Sunderland had young goalkeeper Anthony Patterson to thank for a couple of vital saves - including one stunning stop from Ciaron Brown - to keep the scores level. That set the stage for Embleton to score within four minutes of entering the action from the bench, prompting an explosion of joy and relief from Sunderland's large travelling contingent.
Seconds later, Stewart should have added another late goal to Sunderland's list - and killed the game in the process - but he could not beat Oxford keeper Jack Stevens in a one-on-one. A couple of weeks ago, Sunderland were one of seven sides competing for four play-off places.
With MK Dons now all-but certain of a top six finish, Plymouth odds-on for the same, and with Ipswich's challenge hitting the buffers, that equation has now changed to four sides - Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe, and Oxford - fighting it out for two places. Of that quartet, Sunderland were the only winners and Oxford the only losers at the weekend, with Wednesday and Wycombe both held to draws.
Wednesday, Sunderland, and Wycombe are locked on 73 points, with the fifth-placed Owls ahead on goal difference, while the Black Cats are level with the Chairboys on goal difference and goals scored but are above them by virtue of their head-to-head record. Oxford are four points back further back.
Wednesday and Sunderland still have five games to play, while Wycombe and Oxford have only four. Sunderland have fought their way into a strong position, but they still have a lot of work to do in the final three weeks of the season to secure a play-off spot.
Their late charge has come at the right time, but it must continue to the end of the season - and into added time, if they make the play-offs.
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