RECENT history between these two sides might look slightly favourable on Sunderland heading into to the League One play-off final. However, the history and the form book get thrown out the window when it comes to a winner takes all scenario.
The Black Cats, who are on a fifteen match unbeaten run, head to the home of English football on Saturday to battle it out with Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley for a place in the Championship.
Alex Neil’s side could end their four year stay in League One while the Chairboys have the chance to seal an immediate return to the second tier of English football.
How have the last five meetings between the two sides panned out in recent years…
Wycombe 1-1 Sunderland (Saturday March 9th 2019)
A high tempered affair at Adams Park which had three red cards saw Duncan Watmore score a stoppage time equaliser to earn Sunderland a point.
Watmore’s late goal ensured that Sunderland had scored in every one of their 35 league games up to that point in the season.
After the current Boro winger’s goal was scored, an altercation ensued which saw Nathan Tyson and Marcus been see red for the hosts while George Honeyman was sent off for the Black Cats for his involvement.
At the time, Sunderland stayed in third place thanks to that result.
Wycombe 1-0 Sunderland (Saturday October 19th 2019)
Phil Parkinson’s first game in charge of the Black Cats got off to the worst possible start.
After taking over from Jack Ross, Parkinson was unable to provide the immediate manager bounce as Darius Charles first half strike condemned them to defeat.
They slipped to tenth in the League One table.
Sunderland 4-0 Wycombe (Saturday January 11th 2020)
A storming first 21 minutes of the game did the damage at the Stadium of Light as their purple patch in the league continued.
Charlie Wyke, Denver Hume and Chris Maguire all netted in the opening stages before a Maguire penalty late on ensured the hammering on home soil.
Having worked their way up the table since Parkinson’s appointment, the reverse fixture showed how far they had come as they climbed into the League One play-offs.
Sunderland 3-1 Wycombe (Saturday August 28th 2021)
Filling the void of Charlie Wyke who left for Wigan in the summer, Ross Stewart was continuing his blistering start to the season in front of goal.
The Scotsman’s brace added to Elliot Embleton’s early bending effort in the first half to make short work of the Chairboys who saw grab a stoppage time consolation.
Lee Johnson’s side were living up to their early label as title contenders and sat top of the division after four wins from their opening five games.
Wycombe 3-3 Sunderland (Saturday January 8th 2022)
If Saturday’s play-off final was going to be anything like this game was, then neutrals would be witnessing a cracking game.
For Sunderland or Wycombe supporters, their nerves would be greatly tested.
The Black Cats opened the scoring as David Stockdale put the ball through his own net before the Chairboys put themselves ahead just after the half hour mark. Ross Stewart replied for the visitors to complete an enthralling first half.
Stewart then steered home what looked like the winner in stoppage time before Wycombe piled numbers forward from a corner and Joe Jacobsen scored from a corner to earn a late point.
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