Jowe Bellingham believed that the play-off last victory of Sunderland over the last victory over Sheffield United proved the black cats' doubters after a bad end of the regular season.
Sunderland ended their eight-year exile of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over the Blades in Wembley Stadium on Saturday, with Tom Watson's Late goal that sealed the victory.
The team of Regis Le Bris lost Luke O'nien early due to an injury and then went a goal in the 25th minute when Tyrese Campbell crashed the ball over Anthony Patterson.
But they came out after the break and ended up at level 14 minutes from time when Eliezer Mayenda shot the ball in the roof of the net.
And in the fifth minute of the second half of the stop time, Watson, who will join Brighton next season, curled the winner at home, which was only his third goal for Sunderland.
Indeed, 19 years and 46 days, Watson became the second-youngest player who scored in a second play-off final, after Julian Joachim in May 1993 (18y and 253d).
In anticipation of the kick -off, many predicted Chris Wilder's team to achieve an immediate return to the upper light, since they ended up 14 points free of the black cats in the table.
That gorge was largely due to a series of six games without a victory at the end of the campaign, including five consecutive defeats, all lower for parties in the division.
“I know people doubted us, it was understandable, we lost a few games, people talk about Momentum,” said Bellingham Sky Sports after the game.
“But I think we have done enough and shown enough in the season for people to give us some credit that go into the play-offs.
“People say we are inexperienced, but you get experience by failing, and we have failed so often together and in the end we have become good.
“Every player has made a name for this. Really proud.”
Say it louder for the people at the back, Jobe! pic.twitter.com/mylopbkuhj
– Sunderland AFC (@sunderlandAFC) 24 May 2025
Sunderland sometimes drove their happiness under the Wembley arch, with the black cats ending with an expected goals (XG) total from 0.71 to 1.46 of their opponents.
The blades also saw the goal of Harrison Burrows allowed when they were 1-0 in the first half, but his strike was excluded for an offside against Vinicius Souza.
But the Le Bris team made their chance of the vital moment, where the Sunderland -Baas explained that his players had to adapt to tactical tweaks, but could find the solution.
“It was a strange game. We didn't start well, I think, perhaps a little nervous. We knew rather they could be clinical and they were,” said Le Bris.
“Then I think this game represents the way we play this season – with resilience, with discipline to get back into the game, and we have talented players so that we can score.
“We had to change something in the game, so we were lucky because we had many options on the couch and we tried different options in the second half.
“And in the end we found the solution. The players found the solution because it is always the case.
“We have tried different options because we have the players to do that.”