Sunderland captain sends bullish message to Sheffield Wednesday ahead of League One play-offs

Sunderland captain Corry Evans is relishing the challenge of facing Sheffield Wednesday in the League One play-offs. The Black Cats will compete in the end-of-season jamboree for the third time in four seasons.

A final day victory over Morecambe guaranteed Sunderland finished fifth and set up a two legged semi-final tie against the Owls. The Black Cats entertain Wednesday in the first leg at the Stadium of Light this Friday, with the return fixture a week today. The winners will play either Milton Keynes Dons or Wycombe Wanderers in the final at Wembley on Saturday, May 21.

Sunderland thumped Wednesday 5-0 when the two clubs last met on Wearside back in December, although the Owls were recovering from a Covid-19 outbreak. The result avenged the Black Cats 3-0 drubbing at Hillsborough earlier in the campaign.

Darren Moore issues Barry Bannan injury update after Sheffield Wednesday's win over Portsmouth

Evans said: "It's two great clubs I have to say first and foremost, and it will be a really good occasion. The first game we were disappointed with ourselves and how we performed in that match.

"The second game was probably one of our better performances this season, so we just have to try and take that form in and try to do the job over these two legs. Obviously, we'll be looking to get a positive result at home but we are quite good away from home as well.

"We've shown that of late that we can go away and keep clean sheets. It's going to be a great occasion and we are all looking forward to it. We set out this season to get in the automatics so we are disappointed we didn't achieve what we wanted to but at the same time we have another crack at it, albeit through the play-offs. We have to take the game to Sheffield