Former Sunderland legend Gary Bennett hailed manager Alex Neil for finally ending the Black Cats' Wembley play-off final hoodoo. Bennett was a member of the first Sunderland side that tasted play-off anguish at the national stadium against Swindon in 1990 when Alan McLoughlin’s shot deflected off him to decide a 1-0 defeat,
And, although Denis Smith's men subsequently went up to the top flight anyway due to the Wiltshire side being found guilty of making illegal payments to players, the game was subsequently followed by two further agonising trips to the capital for gut-wrenching one-off promotion contest losses.
In 1998, the club were denied a place in the top-flight by Charlton on penalties and, three years ago, the Addicks piled on the misery again following a 2-1 defeat under the arch in the League One final.
Bennett, who also suffered Wembley defeat with Sunderland in the 1985 Milk Cup final against Norwich and in the 1992 FA Cup final at the hands of Liverpool, was understandably delighted, therefore, to witness Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart goals see off Wycombe 2-0 this afternoon.
Now 60, the former Roker Park favourite told BBC Radio Newcastle: "We have waited so long to see Sunderland win at Wembley. They deserved to win today.
"The last 15 to 16 matches we have seen since Alex Neil took over, it's been an unbelievable turnaround. I fancied Sunderland in the play-offs because the pressure was off them.
"They weren't favourites in the betting to win them. Sheffield Wednesday was a difficult game and, if they weren't going to win it, it was going to be MK Dons."
Marco Gabbiadini, who also played in that defeat to Swindon 32 years ago, added that he felt former boss Lee Johnson deserved a share of the credit for promotion to the Championship.
The latter was sacked with the Stadium of Light outfit lying third in the table following a 6-0 loss to Bolton at the end of January and former striker Gabbiadini argued on BBC Radio Newcastle: "Lee Johnson deserves a mention.
"Sunderland went into Christmas with a better than two points per game return. I think he would have had a good go getting Sunderland over the line.
"The players started faltering and at the time he didn't have the players to replace them with. The bad results before he got the sack, he didn't have anyone to play on the left side of defence."
