Regis Le Bris has praised his Sunderland squad for showing “resilience” to achieve promotion with a 2-1 comeback Championship Play-Off Final win over Sheffield United.
Tyrese Campbell fired Chris Wilder’s Blades ahead in the 25th minute but Eliezer Mayenda netted a 76th-minute equaliser, before Tommy Watson curled in a low 95th-minute winner to complete the Black Cats’ comeback and end their eight-year exile from the Premier League.
The result also marked Watson’s final appearance for Sunderland after he agreed a £10 million transfer move to Brighton in early April, which will be officially completed in mid-June once the transfer window opens.
Le Bris post-match praised his squad for producing a “tough” performance which saw them suffer for much of the match until they fought back with two clinical goals, as he credited their “resilience” for the result.
“Small details can change the outcome. We kept the resilience and that is one of the main strengths of this team. Even when it is tough and they struggle, they stay connected and they don’t give up.
“It is always difficult to make a decision but sometimes it is just instruct. We felt we needed some pace and someone to win their one-v-one and Tommy is that kind of player. He is a good finisher and he shows that this afternoon – we are so proud.”
“It will be another chapter next season,” added Le Bris as he iterated that the top flight won’t be easy after nearly a decade out of the division, but is confident that his players can have the belief to fight for survival and try to avoid instant relegation.
“The Premier League is really hard and tough – the most competitive league in the world. We will have another tough challenge but we will see later.
“It is really impressive the way they believed in their dream. The players told me earlier in the season that they wanted to get promoted and they have done it so congratulations to them.”
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