‘The gulf is so big’ – Sunderland given brutal Premier League warning by club legend

Sunderland’s trust in their youth inspired their promotion to the Premier League – but they have to be careful they won’t be their downfall. The Black Cats caused an upset of sorts in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, coming back from a goal down to beat favourites Sheffield United 2-1. Sunderland achieved their goal thanks to a reliance on youthGetty Jobe Bellingham [middle] was a key part of the Black Cats’ promotionGetty Their return to the top-flight after an eight-year absence came thanks to 19-year-old academy graduate Tom Watson, who decided the tie in the fifth minute of stoppage time. He wasn’t alone in being green, as captain Luke O’Nien was the only player in the starting 11 over the age of 25. That was an advantage on the day, as club legend Kevin Phillips told talkSPORT: “I thought Sunderland were looking a bit on their feet, the second half they got stronger and I think that’s just because they’re young lads, they had a second wind. “They’re a young side and I’ve been to those finals, I know what it takes, I’ve played in four of those finals and you need high energy late on in games.” However, Phillips was quick to warn that such reliance on youth won’t be enough back in the big time. “If this team went into the Premier League I think they’d really struggle,” he admitted. “Let’s be honest about it, you’d love to give them an opportunity but the gulf is so big between the Premier League and the Championship.” The play-off final is known as the richest game in the world due to the prize money and impending TV income in the top flight. Phillips expects Sunderland to spend big, given the fact that all three promoted teams have gone straight back down in consecutive seasons. Yet they need to avoid a pitfall of some of their predecessors. Sunderland will likely have to get some experience in the team He explained: “It was interesting listening to Niall Quinn, having been the chairman, he said it causes all sorts of problems. “It’s a good problem to have, £210million, but they have to invest it wisely, we’ve seen over the years when clubs go out and buy eight, nine, ten players without really doing their due diligence, without analysing what they need. “They need to be really clever in the transfer market, they need to bring in four or five players to really strengthen. “But it’s a great problem to have and it will be really interesting to see who Regis [Le Bris, manager] tries to recruit. “They’ll have a list now of players they’re working on, but they’ve got a lot of work to do, that’s for sure.” Le Bris will have plenty of support in his attempts to keep the side in the Premier League, having achieved legendary status with the promotion. Sunderland went all the way down to the third tier between 2018 and 2022, and have now finally made it back to the top-flight. Le Bris was relegated in his previous job with Lorient and seen as a surprise appointment, but Phillips explained why he’s been so impressive yet again. “They’ve shown togetherness just like Reggie said and they showed it again yesterday to come back from one goal down,” he said. “I didn’t think they would be able to do it if I was being completely honest, especially after watching the first half. “Whatever Reggie said at half time worked because they came out they were a different team, they were on the front foot, they were more positive, they had more energy and they got the goals.”

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‘The gulf is so big’ – Sunderland given brutal Premier League warning by club legend

Sunderland’s trust in their youth inspired their promotion to the Premier League – but they have to be careful they won’t be their downfall.

The Black Cats caused an upset of sorts in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, coming back from a goal down to beat favourites Sheffield United 2-1.

Sunderland achieved their goal thanks to a reliance on youth

Jobe Bellingham [middle] was a key part of the Black Cats’ promotion

Their return to the top-flight after an eight-year absence came thanks to 19-year-old academy graduate Tom Watson, who decided the tie in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

He wasn’t alone in being green, as captain Luke O’Nien was the only player in the starting 11 over the age of 25.

That was an advantage on the day, as club legend Kevin Phillips told talkSPORT: “I thought Sunderland were looking a bit on their feet, the second half they got stronger and I think that’s just because they’re young lads, they had a second wind.

“They’re a young side and I’ve been to those finals, I know what it takes, I’ve played in four of those finals and you need high energy late on in games.”

However, Phillips was quick to warn that such reliance on youth won’t be enough back in the big time.

“If this team went into the Premier League I think they’d really struggle,” he admitted.

“Let’s be honest about it, you’d love to give them an opportunity but the gulf is so big between the Premier League and the Championship.”

The play-off final is known as the richest game in the world due to the prize money and impending TV income in the top flight.

Phillips expects Sunderland to spend big, given the fact that all three promoted teams have gone straight back down in consecutive seasons.

Yet they need to avoid a pitfall of some of their predecessors.

Sunderland will likely have to get some experience in the team

He explained: “It was interesting listening to Niall Quinn, having been the chairman, he said it causes all sorts of problems.

“It’s a good problem to have, £210million, but they have to invest it wisely, we’ve seen over the years when clubs go out and buy eight, nine, ten players without really doing their due diligence, without analysing what they need.

“They need to be really clever in the transfer market, they need to bring in four or five players to really strengthen.

“But it’s a great problem to have and it will be really interesting to see who Regis [Le Bris, manager] tries to recruit.

“They’ll have a list now of players they’re working on, but they’ve got a lot of work to do, that’s for sure.”

Le Bris will have plenty of support in his attempts to keep the side in the Premier League, having achieved legendary status with the promotion.

Sunderland went all the way down to the third tier between 2018 and 2022, and have now finally made it back to the top-flight.

Le Bris was relegated in his previous job with Lorient and seen as a surprise appointment, but Phillips explained why he’s been so impressive yet again.

“They’ve shown togetherness just like Reggie said and they showed it again yesterday to come back from one goal down,” he said.

“I didn’t think they would be able to do it if I was being completely honest, especially after watching the first half.

“Whatever Reggie said at half time worked because they came out they were a different team, they were on the front foot, they were more positive, they had more energy and they got the goals.”