NafisaSunderland manager Regis Le Bris delivered his post-match press conference with his usual no-nonsense manner after overcoming Sheffield United to secure a return to the Premier League.
Tyrese Campbell’s opening goal handed the Blades an early advantage, but Eliezer Mayenda and Tommy Watson completed a dramatic second-half comeback to end the Black Cats’ eight-year exile from the top tier.
Nevertheless, the outcome could have been entirely different had Harrison Burrow’s first-half volley counted, which would have put the Blades two goals ahead just past the half-hour mark. Sunderland only partially cleared a corner to the Sheffield United left-back on the edge of the box, who fired a superb volley into the bottom corner beyond Anthony Patterson.
However, referee Chris Kavanagh was directed to the pitchside monitor by Video Assistant Referee John Brooks, who advised that Blades’ midfielder Vinicius Souza was in an offside position and obstructing Patterson’s view.
The goal was chalked off and Sunderland fans erupted as if they’d scored themselves. The controversial call proved pivotal, with the Black Cats displaying impressive resilience to fight back.
Although he praised Sunderland after the match and congratulated Le Bris on the promotion, Wilder was livid about VAR being used in the final.
“We play 46 games, two play-off games and all of a sudden it’s a subjective decision by the referee,” he said in his post match press conference. “I don’t think the goalkeeper saves it, I don’t think he gets anywhere near it. I thought it gave them a lifeline with some real energy.”
Le Bris refused to be baited into a verbal spat, though he had already stressed in the build-up that his squad needed to be prepared for added scrutiny.
“The details are sometimes for us, or against us,” Le Bris said in his post match press conference. “It depends on the situation.
“It’s difficult to comment on the decision because VAR was there for both teams. At the end, it was a positive addition for us.”
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