Sunderland's Wembley hero makes £220m mark & causes TV apology before final exit
Outgoing Sunderland winger Tommy Watson's stunning final contribution in a Black Cats shirt means Regis Le Bris' side will join him in the Premier League next season
As far as leaving presents go, it will probably never be beaten.
Tommy Watson was always going to play in the Premier League next year after agreeing to join Brighton this summer - his final act in a Sunderland shirt ensured that he would take his now former club with him.
The 19-year-old sent an inch-perfect strike into the bottom corner beyond Michael Cooper in the 95th minute to steal all the headlines in the Championship play-off final and cap a fine Sunderland fightback. It looked as though the Black Cats' nine lives were up before Eliezer Mayenda unleashed a thunderbolt from nowhere to cancel out Tyrese Campbell's slick first half opener.
And then it was over to Watson: a player who wasn't even included on the match programme.
His final touch in a Sunderland shirt will bank the club a huge £220million bounty to further sweeten their return to the top-flight, as if that were necessary.
Understandably, the teenager was euphoric at the final whistle. Even Sky Sports could forgive his X-rated response when he was asked to try and summarise his feelings. "I think my celebration said it all, I can't really put it into words to be honest, just look around it's f***ing unbelievable," he said.
The timing of Watson's £10million switch to Brighton being confirmed last month - on April Fools Day no less - was not universally well received to say the least given the club's push for promotion. But nobody was grumbling on Saturday as 40,000 plus Sunderland fans started the party of their lives under the famous Wembley arch.
The unfortunate Luke O'Nien, forced off with a dislocated shoulder after just two minutes, summed it up best. "I'm so proud of this club and these boys - I can't believe what's just happened," he told Sky Sports.
"I've never felt anxiety like that - but the gaffer said if you get one goal who knows what can happen. Those boys, Tommy Watson - Sunderland legend. They're all Sunderland legends. I am just delighted to play a part in the happiness. What am I saying, I didn't play a part, I did nothing! I was just there on the side watching - I covered more ground celebrating when Eliezer and Tommy scored."
For every winner at Wembley, there is no worse place to lose. Sheffield United and their fans know only too well the pain of play-off heartbreak and this one will take time to digest.
Former Sheffield United defender Chris Basham was in disbelief, saying: "Sheffield United looked really comfortable, they were favourites and they were outstanding they looked like they were going to win it but after 60 minutes to be fair to Sunderland came back into it and then came the sucker punch.
"It's so disappointing. It's a kick in the teeth and stomach and I don't know why we don't win here. It's happened to me as a players and it's happened here today. It's horrible."
But Watson will sleep easy tonight after penning the dream ending to his Sunderland story.
"I've been thinking about this for weeks," he said post-match. "I think it was written, I couldn't have pictured it any better."
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