Corry Evans skippered Sunderland back to the Championship following their 2-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final at Wembley at the weekend.
Goals from Elliot Embleton and Ross Stewart saw the Black Cats finally win a play-off final after six previous unsuccessful attempts and make a return to the second tier of English football after an absence of four seasons.
Defender Carl Winchester missed out on Saturday’s showpiece final because of a groin injury while former Linfield player Trai Hume, who only joined the club in January, was not included in the match-day squad.
Meanwhile, Steven Davis collected his third Scottish Cup winner’s medal after Rangers overcame their Europa League disappointment by recording a 2-0 extra time win at Hampden Park against Hearts who included Liam Boyce in their starting line-up and had Michael Smith on the bench.
Speaking after Rangers had lifted the Scottish Cup for the 34th time, Davis said. “It’s been such an emotional week, obviously what with the European final and it was also Jimmy Bell’s funeral on Friday, so I’m delighted we could finish on a high.”
Elsewhere, Stuart Dallas will be playing Premier League football again next season after Leeds United’s late 2-1 victory at Brentford saw them avoid relegation ahead of Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s Burnley, whose 2-1 reverse at home to Newcastle United saw them drop out of the top flight after six seasons.
Jonny Evans got another ninety minutes of football under his belt as Leicester City rounded off their campaign with a comprehensive 5-1 home win over Southampton while Northern Ireland U21 midfielder Isaac Price came off the bench in Everton’s 5-1 defeat at Arsenal to make his Premier League debut.
Finally, congratulations to Laura Rafferty and Ciara Watling who both helped Southampton Women FC secure their return back to the Women’s Championship after defeating Wolves 1-0 in the play-off final at Stockport on Saturday.
