Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
10 mins: Sunderland are finally seeing some of the ball.
So far it has been all Blades, with Hamer at the heart of their forward flurries.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:13
‘That was cruel for O’Nien’
That was cruel for Luke O’Nien, a veteran of over 300 games for Sunderland. This was the biggest but also – given that his participation in effect ended after about 75 seconds – one of the shortest. On comes Chris Mepham, who was sent off against United earlier this season.
Richard Jolly at Wembley24 May 2025 15:12
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
7 mins: Chris Mepham is coming on. A more than capable replacement, with 61 Premier League appearances under his belt.
But that is a major blow.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:09
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
4 mins: This has not been a good start for Sunderland – and it’s about to get worse.
O’Nien landed badly and looks to have seriously hurt his shoulder. He’s a tough cookie -but when he looks in pain, that usually tells you enough.
Sunderland are about to lose one of their biggest leaders inside the first five minutes. The magic pen is out, with agony etched on O’Nien’s face.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:08
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
2 mins: SAVE! SO NEARLY THE PERFECT START FOR THE BLADES!
Sunderland give it away again and Hamer whips in an early ball, latched onto by Moore. The Welshman nods towards the bottom corner and it looks destined to be an early opener, but Patterson gets down to produce a goal-saving save!
This has been a shaky start from the Black Cats.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:05
Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
1 min: Sunderland keeper Patterson comes under immediate pressure from Campbell and just about manages to hoof it away before being blocked.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:04
KICK-OFF! Sheffield United 0-0 Sunderland
WE ARE UNDERWAY AT WEMBLEY!
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:03
‘Every minute matters’
Here’s why kick-off is a minute later than usual – to raise awareness for the importance of learning CPR.
Vinnie Jones is heard over the tannoy as a timer ticks up to 60.
The campaign, which began during last season’s play-offs, is encouraging 360,000 people to use the British Heart Foundation’s online RevivR tool and to start learning CPR by the culmination of the football season with the play-off finals.
It has already surpassed its target of teaching 270,000 people – three times the capacity of Wembley Stadium – to learn CPR.
Will Castle24 May 2025 15:02
National anthem
Time for the national anthem sung by… did he say Gary Lineker?
Oh, Harry Linacre. I know he’s about to be out of a job but that would have been quite the career shift.
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:58
Closing in on kick-off!
We are nearing kick-off at Wembley – a reminder that kick-off is at 3:01pm by design, raising awareness of heart issues and encourage people to learn CPR.
But in good time, the players are lining up in the tunnel and ready to hit the turf. Both sides are just a win away from Premier League promotion.
The Championship play-off final, UP NEXT!
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:54