Sunderland are a big game team - but they can only win play-off this one way

SUNDERLAND ARE THE UNDERDOGS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL AGAINST SHEFFIELD UNITED CLIVE YOULTON 17:30, 23 May 2025 Ali Maxwell, founder of the NTT20 Podcast reckons Sunderland are a

“big game team” and has tipped them to beat Sheffield United. The EFL expert believes in a one-off game anything can happen and while most tipsters are going with The Blades, he has gone in

the other direction. However, Maxwell does think that the Black Cats will have to set the pace and win from the front, rather than coming from a goal behind. Speaking on EFL Analysis, he

said: “I have a feeling about Sunderland. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to look, whether they go ahead, whether they have to come from behind. I don’t think it’s hugely logical,

because off the bench, Sheffield United are stronger. They were a better team overall in the regular season. “But I just want to point out that when Sunderland played Burnley both times in

the regular season, I maintain in those games, they were absolutely equals of those two teams who finished above them with many more points and arguably even better than those teams across

those four games.” Maxwell concluded: “That makes me feel good about them as a big game team. I’m sure Sheffield United can point at big games where they came out on the right side of it.

But I’m going to lean towards Sunderland winning promotion to the Premier League – 2-1 final score.” Article continues below Sunderland’s form unfolded in February, with Leeds United’s late

2-1 victory looking like it was the turning point in their season and they did not end the campaign in any sort of form. The Black Cats can set a new record by winning the play-offs off the

back of five straight defeats in the league, and Le Bris will know that he owes supporters one more fantastic performance to help ease the blow of the last couple of months.