SUNDERLAND and Wycombe Wanderers will draw battle later this afternoon ahead of their League One play-off final at Wembley. 

If you didn't already know much about the Black Cats opponents today, here's some nuggets of information ahead of their promotion showdown... 

Wycombe have only ever beaten Sunderland once in their history

The Northern Echo:

That might make for particular grim reading for the Chairboys but in reality, the two teams have only ever faced each other six times.

Their only victory against the Black Cats came on Phil Parkinson’s first game in charge after taking over from Jack Ross. It finished 1-0 at Adams Park as Darius Charles goal compounded a miserable start to Sunderland’s season.

On the other occasions, Sunderland have won twice and the other three games have ended in draws.

Chairboys lost their first ever appearance at Wembley… to Bishop Auckland

The Northern Echo: Billy Russell scores the first Bishop Auckland goal in a 3-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the 1957 FA Amateur Cup Final.

There is a nugget of history for you.

Before their days in the lofty heights of League One, Wycombe were a non league outfit plying their trade at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to the football pyramid.

But they managed to reach the FA Cup Amateur Final back in 1957 when Northern League side Bishop Auckland were their opponents on the day. A whopping 90,000 fans watched as the Chairboys surrendered to a 3-1 defeat.

League One’s current oldest player is a Wycombe favourite

The Northern Echo: Adebayo Akinfenwa has scored five goals for Wycombe this season, with four coming in the league (PA)

And he has confirmed that Saturday will be his last ever game.

Adebayo Akinfenwa, The Beast, will end his 20 year playing career at Wembley having recently turned 40 where he hopes to see his beloved Chairboys send him out on a high.

He’s made 249 Wycombe appearances since signing in 2015 and scored 60 goals but he is perhaps known for his bubbly and infectious personality. Hopefully, he won’t be feeling too bubbly by Sunday evening.

Who was the third oldest player at one point. Jermain Defoe, at 39, was number three in the rankings before he decided to call it a day in March.

Gareth Ainsworth once featured against Wycombe in a Wembley final… and lost

The Northern Echo: Gareth Ainsworth has signed a deal to become a player-coach at Wycombe Wanderers

Is that a good or bad omen? Then again, he’s also won a Wembley final with them so what does it matter really?

Nevertheless, Ainsworth was playing in the heart of Preston North End’s midfield when Wycombe beat the Lilywhites in the final of the Division 3 Play-Off’s in 1994.

He has then gone on to manage them to League One glory beating Oxford United to achieve promotion to the Championship in 2020. Always a good chance to re-write history.

Gareth Ainsworth is a long-time servant of Wycombe

The Northern Echo: Gareth Ainsworth ahead of the League One play-off final against Southend in 2015 (Anita Ross Marshall)

He doesn’t quite top the list of longest serving managers but Ainsworth is narrowing in on a decade with the Chairboys. The honour of the top gong belongs to Simon Weaver of Harrogate who has been at the League Two side for over 12 years.

It’s been some climb since he walked through the door. He’s taken them from being a mid-table League Two side to becoming a League One promotion candidate. He’s also taken them to a season in the Championship which is the highest the club has ever been in the football pyramid.

The chance to do that again awaits them on Saturday.

Like Sunderland, Wycombe have been on an unbeaten run leading up to the final

The Northern Echo: Patrick Roberts celebrates after scoring the stoppage-time equaliser that took Sunderland to Wembley

It’s been a good run of form as well.

Sunderland have not tasted defeat since the beginning of February and it’s been a hard fought 15 match unbeaten run to get them to Wembley.

But the Chairboys run of form has almost been a mirror image. Apart from their semi-final second leg loss to Milton Keynes Dons that sealed their place at Wembley, Ainsworth’s side hadn’t lost in 13 games. A run of form which also saw them win eight times.

That sets things up nicely for Saturday then.

There is a former Chairboy in the Sunderland ranks

The Northern Echo:

He is a favourite amongst the Sunderland fans as well.

Luke O’Nien made the switch to Wearside back in 2018 for an undisclosed fee after over 100 appearances for Wycombe.

He spent three years at Adams Park after signing on a free transfer from Watford. It was there where his hard work and endeavour attracted the interest of the Black Cats and went on to make the switch. Imagine if he could come back to haunt his old side?

And… there is a former Black Cat in the Wycombe ranks

The Northern Echo: Newport County v Wycombe Wanderers Rene Howe clears Josh Scowen (5376449)

How much more of a level playing field does it need to be?

Josh Scowen was on Wearside as recently as last season. He was part of the side that failed last time out in the League One play-offs after they lost to Lincoln City in the semi-finals.

He went on to seal a move to Wycombe last summer and has become a regular in the side making 37 league appearances for the Chairboys. He looks set to start against his former side at Wembley as he looks to achieve what he couldn’t with the Black Cats.