Key debating points ahead of Sunderland vs Wycombe in the League One play-off final

The Black Cats take on the Chairboys for a place in the Championship next season after a four year stint in League One. 

Digital Sports Writer Matty Jones has been analysing some of the key talking points ahead of the game... 

Should Nathan Broadhead be handed a start?

This is perhaps Alex Neil’s toughest call for the League One play-off final. Or maybe it isn’t?

Despite numerous injuries hampering his progress throughout the season, his contribution has been outstanding with 13 goals in 26 appearances. But Alex Neil is a man who picks his side based on nullifying the strengths of the opposition and considering he has been out of the side, that may well see Broadhead sacrificed from the starting eleven.

While Broadhead has the finishing instincts of an out-and-out striker, he likes to drop into deeper positions as an effective number ten and links the play from midfield to attack. His skill to dart away from opponents and make things happen in the attacking third is a effective weapon.

However, that decision to start Broadhead may come at the expense of either Patrick Roberts or Jack Clarke who look impossible to dislodge at the moment. Clarke recently had his best game in a Sunderland shirt in the second leg of their play-off semi final against Sheffield Wednesday while Roberts scored the winning goal.

Does Carl Winchester come straight back into the team?

Sunderland have been boosted by his return to training after he’s been working his way back from an ankle injury. Having been out since the back end of April after limping off during their 5-1 win over Cambridge United, the assumption was that Winchester’s chances of being involved in the play-offs were minimal. However, his return to training potentially gives Alex Neil a bit of a selection headache.

Winchester has been a near ever present in the side this season. He started off as a free scoring right-back under Lee Johnson with three in his first nine games of the season and looked a revelation under Lee Johnson.

But having naturally played as a central midfielder over the course of his career, his versatility has been used to good effect by Sunderland over the season.

Since Alex Neil’s arrival, Winchester has also been used on the right side of a central defensive three which was been the deepest he’s played for the Black Cats. However, the chances of dislodging either Bailey Wright, Danny Batth or Dennis Cirkin from their current back three seem unlikely given their recent contributions.

Once again, his place in the team will fall down to what system Neil decides to go with.

Does Alex Neil play four or five at the back?

The Sunderland manager has flitted between the two formations. Some of those decisions has been down to the availability of personnel while some have been to combat their opponents.

The two senior figureheads in defence, namely Bailey Wright and Danny Batth, are expected to be in the starting line-up at Wembley. Their experience and the way they have carried themselves throughout Alex Neil’s reign has been almost faultless. But it’s the decision to be made on how secure the manager wants to keep things.

Dennis Cirkin has often been used on the left side of a defensive three. But Carl Winchester’s recent recovery also gives the manager food for thought whilst he also has Callum Doyle to use should he need him.

How do Sunderland deal with Wycombe?

Earlier in the season, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Chairboys presence and physicality might be the deciding factor in this game. For all of their attacking prowess, they’ve looked shaky and weak at the back but it’s completely different story under Alex Neil.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean to say that the manager will have his opponents sussed this weekend as they know they will have to match them physically.

It ties itself in with how they want to set themselves up using four or five at the back. Will they want to force the issue onto Wycombe or do they want to shore things up and let their creative players do the talking up the other end.

Sam Vokes, a tall unit up front, will be hell bent on causing problems in Sunderland’s defensive third with his height and strength. Then it’s up to the likes of Corry Evans and Luke O’Nien to nullify the creative players around them. We shall see.

Will there be a late goal at Wembley again?

This game is so finely poised that it would be little surprise to see it decided in the dying embers.

Two out of three of Sunderland’s trips to Wembley have seen last minute goals.

Aiden McGeady tucked home in the dying stages of the Black Cats Checkatrade Trophy Final in 2019 to take the tie to penalties against Portsmouth. They would go on to lose on penalties.

Less than two months later, it was heartbreak against as Patrick Bauer bundled the ball over the line as the Black Cats come up short in the League One play-off final.

While Sunderland have flipped the art of the late goal on it’s head in recent weeks, both of these sides are no strangers to a last gasp goal.

Sunderland are on a 15 match unbeaten run heading into their Wembley trip. Goals beyond the 80th minute have been scored in eight of those games which include four stoppage time winners. They’ve made a nail biting finish into works of heroism.

Conversely, part of Wycombe’s 13 match unbeaten run in the run up to this game, they scored beyond the 80th minute in seven out of 13 along with a few stoppage time winners.

Which way will the thumb of the footballing gods point at Wembley?