[themaclad]

Preston North End 0 Sunderland 3 Diallo, Pritchard,Clarke

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Bauer, Lindsay; Potts, Ryan Ledson, McCann, Fernández; Parrott (Onomah, 55); Cannon, Delap (Woodburn, 69). Subs not used: Cornell, Slater, Leigh, Mawene, Kamara.

Sunderland line-up: Patterson; Gooch (Anderson, 66), Hume, O’Nein, Cirkin (Pritchard, 45); Neil, Ekwah (Lihadji, 86); Roberts, Diallo (Ba, 86), Clarke; Gelhardt (Michut, 73). Subs not used: Bass, Taylor.

Attendance: 21,177 (5,714 Sunderland fans).

Referee: Mr R Madley.

As end of season games go this was entertaining until Sunderland took the lead apart from a Bauer header which was well saved by Patterson the second half was all one way.

FIRST HALF

We were excellent for 15 minutes could have had a couple of goals but final ball just did not drop in the right areas to capitalise on it and when we did get a clear site of goal with Delap through on a one on one he beat the keeper but put the ball wide of the left hand post.
Both sides were missing players, no Johnston, Whiteman or Browne for us so midield was light, also Hughes who was named in the side withdrew before the kick off. We had a selection of kids on the bench.
Once our initial flurry had died out Sunderland began to get on top, Roberts and Gelhardt had both been denied by Woodman the save from Roberts was outstanding..
They claimed a penalty however blatant dive and had a generous amount of help from Mr Madley who gave us one free kick to 18 for Sunderland.
As the half drew to close atmosphere had gone down as result at that time were not going the way of the Black Cats

Second half
Pritchard on as substitute changed the game, struggled to contain him, then three goals in eleven minutes won them the game, to be fair all the goals were decent, first Diallo first time shot from a rebound, Woodman no chance. The second Pritchard again fro outside the box picked his spot past an unsighted Woodman, then Clark
ran at the defence after Ledson's usual inability to stay on his feet when trying to tackle, the shot found the bottom right corner game over.
Also had gone close twice as well Neil and Ekwah the latter agin denied by a great Woodman save.
The only interest then as the rain absolutely hammered down was scores from other games and with Millwall's collapse the Black cats get the play offs decent bet to go close.

Finally the away support was tremendous and well behaved, sung the National Anthem in full voice

Preston manager Ryan Lowe:

"We've given it a good go but it's not been today or Sheffield United that's cost us the play-offs, it's from games earlier on in the season.

"I said about mentality, I don't mean they're not giving everything, I mean being savvy and taking the opportunities. We went out all guns blazing and we wanted to have a right good go.

"We fell short by six points but in the grand scheme of things, it's not bad. For us and clubs like us, we need to keep building and I think we're going in the right direction, we just need that little bit extra."

Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:

"We started a bit sloppy with too many turnovers of the ball, but we grew into it. It was like a basketball game in the first half and we needed to control it better, and yet it's difficult when you don't have a natural centre-half to organise people around them.

"We were a bit naive and let them have too many chances. But we became more confident on the back of the first goal.

"I'm delighted for the supporters; it's an incredible scenario to see the people of Sunderland enjoying their football so much and coming in their huge numbers. It will be awesome on Saturday [against Luton] at the Stadium of Light.

"I always believe that we have really talented attacking footballers and if we get the ball to them they will score - and they did.

"Blackburn helped us and we got the job done. If you finish sixth after 46 games, that's where you deserve to finish."

A massive thanks go to Alvaro deserves a lot of success, as does Tom Cannon, thanks to Parrott and Delap will probably have to leave Spurs and City respectively to go furthe.
Looks like DJ will leave the club had the end of season out of contract injury been here eight years and possibly gone a bit stale will be missed
Possibly Ched will have to retire, as for the manager still not convinced have witnessed some atrocities this season including wins, whether he will get the backing no one knows, clubs at the crossroads, could be a long season next year

Finally thanks to those who have read thes usually inane ramblings