TRY telling Sunderland supporters that the Checkatrade Trophy is an insignificant irrelevance now.

A club that has won six First Division titles and two FA Cups should not be revelling in making the final of a competition that is essentially a consolation prize for clubs in the third and fourth tier, but if you’re in it, you might as well win it.

The enjoyment of a day out at Wembley will not be lessened because of the perceived inconsequence of the prize at the end of it.

Five years after they last graced the national stadium in a Capital One Cup final with Manchester City, Sunderland will return to Wembley on March 31 to take on Portsmouth in the final of the Checkatrade.

The size of the competing clubs will enhance the occasion, and could result in something close to a sell-out. If 2014 is anything to go by, don’t expect to be able to move in Covent Garden on the final Saturday of the month.

Jack Ross will continue to preach that promotion is the priority, but Sunderland’s supporters have experienced so much heartbreak in the last few years that even the most hard-edged of football fans would struggle to deny them a day in the sun. If nothing else, last night’s semi-final victory will at least ensure that Netflix’s second series has a more upbeat tone.

Goals from Will Grigg and Lewis Morgan booked Sunderland’s place in the final, with a strong Black Cats side following up last month’s league win at Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Ground with a repeat success by the same scoreline.

Grigg’s goal, his first for Sunderland from open play, came courtesy of an accomplished low finish, while Morgan effectively settled things as he swooped to stab home at the start of the second half.

Jon McLaughlin was forced to make a couple of smart second-half saves as Rovers tried to rally, but the Black Cats’ superiority was never really in doubt. Ross will be hoping it is replicated in his side’s remaining league games so that this month’s Checkatrade trip to Wembley is the only one Sunderland have to make. Avoiding the play-offs to win automatic promotion is now the overriding aim.

A Checktrade Trophy winners’ medal would be an attractive bonus, and while matches against Stoke and Newcastle’s academy teams might not have set pulses racing, last night was the point at which the much-derided Football League Trophy became serious.

With the backing of around 1,800 hardy Wearsiders, who braved the driving rain in the Memorial Ground’s quaint marquee-style stands, Jack Ross ditched his policy of making wholesale changes from his league line-up to field what was comfortably Sunderland’s strongest knock-out line-up of the season.

McLaughlin was selected ahead of Robbin Ruiter to make his first Checkatrade appearance of the campaign, Grigg got the nod ahead of Charlie Wyke in attack, and the in-form Aiden McGeady retained his spot on the left-hand side. Lee Cattermole was rested to protect an ongoing ankle problem, but this was Sunderland at full tilt, even though they face two crucial league games in the next seven days. That is what the lure of a Wembley final does to you.

The Black Cats were also buoyed by the memory of having won at Bristol Rovers’ home ground ten days earlier, when McGeady’s class ultimately made the difference on a sunlit afternoon. The weather was markedly different last night, but initially at least, McGeady was once again the focal point of Sunderland’s attacking.

The Irishman has looked a cut above League One level in recent weeks, and whether he found himself on the left or right flank, his dribbling ability troubled the Bristol Rovers defence.

He almost broke the deadlock in the seventh minute, but Jack Bonham produced an excellent fingertip save to turn his right-footed effort around the post after he cut in from the left flank.

Grant Leadbitter also went close in the early stages, firing over from distance, but while Sunderland just about had the upper hand for the majority of the first half, they struggled to turn their superiority in terms of possession into clear-cut chances.

Too many passes went astray in the final third, and having weathered the visitors’ early storm, Bristol Rovers gradually grew into the game.

Their counter-attacking approach asked questions of the Sunderland defence, but with Tom Flanagan and Jimmy Dunne successfully shackling Rovers’ front pairing of Jonson Clarke-Harris and Tom Nichols, the visitors held firm.

They only suffered one scare before the break, with McLaughlin parrying Clarke-Harris’ initial strike before scrambling impressively to prevent Stuart Sinclair reaching the rebound in the area. McLaughlin has not had to make a lot of saves this season, but on the rare occasions he has been called into action, he has generally not been found wanting.

The full importance of his latest stop became apparent two minutes before the break as Sunderland claimed the lead. While Grigg had linked play impressively in his first six appearances in a Black Cats shirt, his only goal had come from the penalty spot against Gillingham. Where was the instinctive finishing that had persuaded his new employers to shell out £4m to sign him in January? It was gloriously evident on the stroke of half-time.

Max Power’s threaded through ball was a thing of beauty, but there was still plenty for Grigg to do as he received possession with a defender at his back. His spin to his left threw his opponent off balance, and without breaking stride, the Sunderland striker fired a crisp low finish into the corner. It was the type of goal Josh Maja was scoring in the first half of the season – and exactly the kind of strike Grigg was signed to produce.

The goal came two minutes before the interval, and to the visitors’ delight, it was followed by a second strike two minutes after the break. This one wasn’t as polished, but it was every bit as raucously received by the travelling support.

Lynden Gooch drilled in a fierce shot from 20 yards, and while Bonham parried the American’s effort, Morgan reacted quickest to bring the rebound under control before prodding into the net. It was the Celtic loanee’s first goal since his January move from Parkhead, and enabled Sunderland to establish what was always likely to be an unassailable lead.

Rovers rallied briefly, and things might have been different had Tom Lockyer found the target instead of heading over from a corner. Ollie Clarke fired in a long-range shot that McLaughlin held, but with a two-goal advantage to defend, Sunderland were able to avoid any unnecessary risks and carefully select their moments to break.

Power’s long-range strike almost resulted in a third goal, and while McLaughlin was called into action again to parry Tareiq Holmes-Dennis’ strike at the other end, the Wearsiders were able to coast through the closing stages in complete control of their fate.