Sunderland vs Wycombe Wanderers betting tips: League One Play-off Final preview, predictions and odds
Broadhead, Nathan
Doyle, Callum
Akinfenwa, Adebayo
Hanlan, Brandon
Clarke, Jack
Wing, Lewis
Recommended bets
Under 2.5 goals and both teams to score NO is 21/20.
Wycombe Wanderers to gain promotion is 11/8.
Match preview
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Ross Stewart celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi Final 1st Leg match between Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday at Stadium of Light on May 6, 2022 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Will one of England’s fallen giants rise again or can the serial underdogs continue to punch above their weight?
Only six clubs have won more English top-flight titles than Sunderland’s six but, these days, they’re marooned in the third-tier.
The Black Cats tumbled out of the Premier League in 2017, before suffering successive relegations, winning just 13 of 84 games across those two campaigns.
Since, Sunderland have been unable to climb out of League One, losing in the 2019 play-off final and then last year’s semi.
Having finished fifth, they faced another massive club Sheffield Wednesday in this season’s semi-final.
In the first leg at the Stadium of Light, Ross Stewart pounced on some terrible defending, scoring the night’s only goal.
Three days later at Hillsborough, extra time beckoned when the Owls equalised on aggregate late on.
But, deep into stoppage time, Patrick Roberts fired home from close range, sending the away end delirious and Sunderland to Wembley.
Having won last season’s EFL Trophy Final at the national stadium, will the Black Cats win an even more crucial match in London this time?
Wycombe Wanderers, in comparison to their opponents, are a tiny club mixing it with the country’s big boys.
After beating rivals Oxford United in the 2020 final, they played second-tier football for the first time last season, narrowly missing out on survival.
Thus, the Chairboys are desperate for an instant return to the Championship, hoping to be there with fans this time round.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side only snuck into these play-offs on the final day, so faced top-seeds and local rivals Milton Keynes Dons in their semi.
In the first leg at Adams Park, Ryan Tafazolli broke the deadlock before Sam Vokes’ header sealed a memorable 2-0 victory.
That proved crucial because, despite losing 1-0 at Stadium MK three days later, it was the away fans celebrating across Buckinghamshire.
This will be a great occasion, but who will be celebrating promotion back to the Championship?
Sunderland team news
GILLINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – AUGUST 22: Max Power of Sunderland battles for possession with Billy Bingham of Gillingham during the Sky Bet League One match between Gillingham and Sunderland at Priestfield Stadium on August 22, 2018 in Gillingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Striker Ross Stewart, known as the Loch Ness Drogba, will be Sunderland’s main man for goals; he’s bagged 25 so far this season.
Patrick Roberts could partner him in attack after he scored the winner in the semi-final.
In goal, Anthony Patterson will start having displaced Bayern Munich loanee Ron-Thorben Hoffmann earlier this season.
Arbenit Xhemajli is a long-term absentee so Danny Batth, Bailey Wright and Dennis Cirkin will form the back three.
Wycombe Wanderers team news
HIGH WYCOMBE, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Sam Vokes celebrates after scoring their sides second goal during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi Final 1st Leg match between Wycombe Wanderers and Milton Keynes Dons at Adams Park on May 05, 2022 in High Wycombe, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
The headline act for Wycombe remains 40 year old striker Adebayo Akinfenwa who is retiring after this game.
What a way that would be to go out, although he’ll have to make an impact from the bench.
That’s because Sam Vokes, who headed home the decisive goal in the semi-final, will continue to lead the attack.
Goalkeeper David Stockdale and attacking midfielder Daryl Horgan are other experienced faces in this squad.
Captain Joe Jacobson will make his 351st appearance for the club at left-back.
He was the hero two years ago, providing the first goal with a wicked corner before bagging the winner from the penalty spot 11 minutes from time.
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Sunderland AFC vs Wycombe Wanderers - 2:0
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Sheffield Wednesday vs Sunderland AFC - 1:1
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Sunderland AFC vs Sheffield Wednesday - 1:0
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Morecambe FC vs Sunderland AFC - 0:1
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Sunderland AFC vs Rotherham United - 1:1
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Latest match form, last 5 games: |
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Sunderland AFC vs Wycombe Wanderers - 2:0
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Milton Keynes Dons vs Wycombe Wanderers - 1:0
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Wycombe Wanderers vs Milton Keynes Dons - 2:0
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Burton Albion vs Wycombe Wanderers - 1:2
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Wycombe Wanderers vs Sheffield Wednesday - 1:0
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| May 21, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 2 - 0 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| May 9, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sunderland AFC |
| May 6, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 1 - 0 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| April 30, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Morecambe FC | 0 - 1 | Sunderland AFC |
| April 26, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 1 - 1 | Rotherham United |
| May 21, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 2 - 0 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| May 8, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Milton Keynes Dons | 1 - 0 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| May 5, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Wycombe Wanderers | 2 - 0 | Milton Keynes Dons |
| April 30, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Burton Albion | 1 - 2 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| April 23, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1 - 0 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| Sunderland AFC | Wycombe Wanderers | |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Matches played | 49 |
| 26 | Matches won | 24 |
| 63 | Goal attempts | 9 |
| 18 | Shots on goal | 3 |
| 33 | Shots off goal | 3 |
| 102 | Corner kicks | 143 |
| 6% | Average ball possession | 2% |
| 12 | Shots blocked | 3 |
| 97 | Cards given | 82 |
| 64 | Free kicks | 16 |
| 8 | Offsides | 7 |
| 1 | Shots on post | 1 |
| 76 | Goals by foot | 72 |
| 2 | Goals by head | 5 |
| 83 | Goals scored | 77 |
| 54 | Goals conceded | 54 |
| 0 | Shots on bar | 1 |
| Sunderland AFC | Wycombe Wanderers | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Matches | 7 |
| 4 | Home Matches | 3 |
| 3 | Away Matches | 4 |
| 14 | Total Goals | 7 |
| 2 | Average Goals Scored | 1 |
| 3 | Wins | 1 |
| 1 | Losses | 3 |
| 3 | Draws | 3 |
| May 21, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 2 - 0 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| January 8, 2022 | League One 21/22 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 - 3 | Sunderland AFC |
| August 28, 2021 | League One 21/22 | Sunderland AFC | 3 - 1 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| January 11, 2020 | League One 19/20 | Sunderland AFC | 4 - 0 | Wycombe Wanderers |
| October 19, 2019 | League One 19/20 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1 - 0 | Sunderland AFC |
League One table:
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accrington Stanley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Barnsley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Bristol Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Burton Albion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Cambridge United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Charlton Athletic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Cheltenham Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Derby County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Fleetwood Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Forest Green Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Ipswich Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Lincoln City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Milton Keynes Dons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Morecambe FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Oxford United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Peterborough United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Port Vale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Portsmouth FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Shrewsbury Town | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Wycombe Wanderers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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What time is kick off between Sunderland AFC vs Wycombe Wanderers?
14:00, Saturday 21 May 2022
