Patrick Roberts says Sunderland can take inspiration from last season's achievements as they look to seal a play-off place on the final day of the season. The Black Cats went into the last day of last season knowing they had to at least match the result of either Portsmouth or Wycombe to be certain of a top six finish in League One, and their win at Morecambe meant they reached the play-offs under their own steam - and went on to win promotion at Wembley.
They face a tougher test this season in the Championship after dropping points at home against Watford on Saturday, meaning they must win at Preston next Monday and hope that at least one of two other results goes in their favour. But for Sunderland to have taken their play-off challenge to the last day in their first season back in the Championship is a tremendous achievement in itself.
"We did it last year and we'll do it this year - go right to the end and see what happens," said Roberts, whose stunning injury-time strike earned his side a 2-2 draw against the Hornets. "We've had a good season so hopefully it finishes in the right way.
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"We can all hold our heads high and be proud of what we've done this season and that's all we can ask for really. Sunderland fans want us to work hard and do our best, make ourselves proud of this club.
"I was immensely proud to be part of the promotion last season and we came into this season with no fear and to attack the league. If we come up short in the end we come up short, but we always give our all until the end."
Sunderland dominated against Watford but struggled to create clear-cut chances, and at the other end their lack of a fit centre-back - and height in general - was punished as the Hornets scored twice from corners, with Christian Kabasele heading them in front inside 20 minutes and then Ryan Porteous doubling that lead just after the midway point in the second half. But even at 2-0 down with 20 minutes remaining, Sunderland continued to fight and Luke O'Nien halved the deficit almost immediately before Roberts' brilliant curling, dipping, shot which flew past Daniel Bachmann and found the top left-hand corner in the fifth minute of injury time.
Roberts smiled: "I just thought: hit the target. They stepped off me and I thought I'd whip it.
"I've done that a few times. It was nice.
"It's difficult to kind of take in. It's a great feeling to score here all the time but to get a draw is bittersweet.
"We'll have to see on Monday, go again and see what happens."
The frustration for Sunderland was the manner of the goals they conceded on a day when a win would have seen them go into the final day of the season sitting inside the top six and with their play-off destiny in their own hands. Roberts said: "We knew Watford would kind of be hot on transitions so we had to keep the ball and try not to give it away.
"We have been a bit sloppy this season with that kind of keeping hold of it and finding the right passes. We lost our way a bit in the first half with the set-pieces.
"We've worked hard this season to combat that but when you are missing the big boys at the back, it doesn't really help. We have tried to shuffle things around to combat that but they have big boys as well.
"They scored two goals from two set-pieces. We are still disappointed and it's frustrating but we will always work hard until the end of the game and that's the DNA that we have and do it every game."
The game against Watford was Sunderland final home game of the Championship campaign and it attracted a season-high crowd of 44,944 - a figure that was therefore also the biggest attendance in the second tier this term. "They have enjoyed good football," said Roberts of the fans. "We brought in good players, and a manager who wants us to play that way.
"For me it has been a delight to play all season. I have been buzzing to put a shirt on every week.
"To try and win for the fans and everyone. One game left, let's see what happens."
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