CORRY EVANS admits Sunderland have missed out on their primary ambition of winning automatic promotion – but the midfielder insists making it to the Championship via the play-offs would be a decent alternative option.

The Black Cats were targeting a top-two finish when the season began last August, but having dropped out of the automatic-promotion spots in mid-January, they never really looked like getting back in during the final three-and-a-half months of the campaign.

They were at risk of missing out of the play-offs when they fell out of the top six at the start of March, but with Saturday’s 1-0 win at Morecambe having rounded off a 13-match unbeaten run, Sunderland find themselves looking ahead to the end-of-season shootout after finishing in fifth position.

Sheffield Wednesday are their semi-final opponents as they look to secure a place at Wembley, with the first leg taking place at the Stadium of Light on Friday evening and the return game to be staged at Hillsborough a week today.

“We set out this season to get in the automatics, so we’re disappointed we didn’t achieve what we wanted to,” said Evans, who will be getting his first taste of play-off football this week. “But at the same time, we have another crack at it, albeit through the play-offs.

“It’s two great clubs, and I have to say, first and foremost, it will be a really good occasion. We have to take the game to Sheffield Wednesday and try to get through, to get to Wembley.”

It is generally felt that playing the away leg first is an advantage in the play-offs, but when Sunderland made it to Wembley under Jack Ross in 2019, they beat Portsmouth 1-0 on Wearside before holding on for a goalless draw at Fratton Park.

The Black Cats’ away record under Alex Neil has been excellent – they have not lost a match away from the Stadium of Light under their current head coach – so provided they remain in the game on Friday, Evans and his team-mates will be confident of getting the job done at Hillsborough.

“Obviously, we’ll be looking to get a positive result at home, but we are quite good away from home as well,” said the central midfielder. “We’ve shown of late that we can go away and keep clean sheets.

“We’re in good form, we’re confident, and we believe we can beat anyone in this league with the way we’re playing at the minute. Winning breeds confidence, and we’re 13 games unbeaten, so we’re on quite a bit of form at the minute.”

The one negative to Saturday’s win at Morecambe was the injury that forced goalscorer Nathan Broadhead to have to leave the field in the first half. The Everton loanee has struggled with injury for much of the campaign, and his absence from the semi-final would be a major blow.

“Hopefully, the injury isn’t too bad because he’s been a big player for us,” said Evans.