JACK ROSS has enjoyed a rollercoaster season at Sunderland but can finish on a high on Sunday.
Ross was recruited from St Mirren to reignite a club that had suffered back-to-back relegations.
He faced a big job and has stopped the rot but a late-season blip saw the Stadium of Light side miss out on automatic promotion from League One.
A whopping 19 draws helped contribute to them finishing fifth – six points off second spot and three adrift of opponents Charlton.
A visit to Wembley also ended in defeat on penalties to Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy Final but revenge was sweet when they battled past Pompey 1-0 in the play-off semis thanks to Chris Maguire's stunner.
The final hurdle are a Charlton side who needed penalties to take care of Doncaster after a dramatic second-leg home tie which they lost 3-2 after extra time.
In regular season Sunderland won 2-1 at home and drew 1-1 so it shows how little there is between the teams.
It's the toughest of the three English play-off finals to call and every chance of a draw after 90 minutes at 9-4 with BetVictor.
Charlton are slight favourites at 17-10 with Sky Bet to win in 90 minutes while Sunderland are 2-1 at bet365.
It may take Sunderland's extra experience, bigger support and greater desire to return to a sleeping giant to the Championship to see them over the line on penalties.
Keeper Jon McLaughlin was brilliant to shut out Portsmouth twice and the Scot could be a hero again.
To go to penalties it's 11-1 with William Hill and to win on spot-kicks both teams are 12-1 with Hill.
The last time the sides met in a play-off final it finished 4-4 after extra time with Charlton winning on pens to move up to the Premier League. How times have changed!
With that game in mind and the fact both meetings this season have seen both score that will be well backed at 20-23 with betfair.
Meanwhile, north of the border St Mirren entertain Dundee United in the second leg of their Premiership play-off final after the sides drew 0-0 at Tannadice.
I tipped a scoreless first half and a draw at full-time and it was tight as expected. There were plenty of chances but some great saves and last-ditch tackles kept the scoreline blank.
Bookies still can't split the sides and Ladbrokes make both 5-6 to be playing in the Premiership.
To win tomorrow the Buddies are 31-20 with BetVictor while United are 2-1 at mcBookie while I can see another draw at 47-20 with Marathonbet..
That would mean extra time and the possibility of penalties and to win by that method you can have either side to win on penalties at 10-1 with William Hill.
Recommended Bets
- Charlton v Sunderland draw
- Sunderland to win on penalties
- St Mirren v Dundee United draw
- St Mirren to win on peanlties
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
