Player Ratings: Sunderland 1-0 Tranmere - The Lads win at Wembley!

Lee Burge: 7/10

Was alert from set pieces and quick off his line when he had to be, didn’t make too many memorable saves in the game.

Max Power: 6/10

Started well defensively, his crossing was good on the few occasions he broke forwards.

Power’s fortunes changed when Corey Blackett-Taylor came on, the winger ran our captain ragged.

Tom Flanagan: 5/10

Struggled before limping off prior to half-time. His passing was awkward and mostly inaccurate. He was also lucky when his horrifically miscued clearance was swept up by Luke O’Nien.

Luke O’Nien: 7/10

Sunderland’s best player by a mile in the first-half, his awareness and ability to be in the right place at the right time was excellent. His distribution was superb and his knack for being first to clearances saved Sunderland in a subpar first-half.

His positioning and urge to gamble cost him a couple of times in the second, but this was another seriously impressive performance at centre back overall.

Callum McFadzean: 5/10

Had some decent moments in the game, but continues to be a frustratingly inconsistent passer.

Josh Scowen: 6/10

Another who was a real mixed bag, his ability to break forwards from midfield was crucial in a largely one-paced Sunderland attack, but like McFadzean he just squanders possession too much.

Scowen set-up one of Sunderland’s only good first-half chances picking out Power with a clever cross, which the Sunderland skipper failed to convert.

Grant Leadbitter: 4/10

A lot of his long range passes failed to find their intended target, his most memorable moment was a lacklustre giveaway in our third.

The big pitch at Wembley exposed of all of Leadbitter’s weaknesses, he struggled to get about the pitch and his passing was sloppy.

Chris Maguire: 6/10

Got on the ball a lot without ever finding that killer pass, struggled when forced back defensively. Maguire botched a brilliant chance to set McGeady up in the first-half as well.

Aiden McGeady: 7/10

Even on a quiet afternoon, McGeady can win matches for Sunderland. His expertly weighted pass to release Lynden Gooch, ultimately did that.

Lynden Gooch: 6/10

Gooch, struggled for large patches of today’s game, but when it mattered most, he stepped up with an ice cool finish.

Charlie Wyke: 6/10

Worked tirelessly, but didn’t show a lot of quality when the ball was played up to him.

(SUB) Conor McLaughlin: 7/10

The big pitch at Wembley suited a technical player like McLaughlin, his class really shone through. His passing was excellent and he defended well when required to stick his body on the line.

(SUB) Jack Diamond: 6/10

Had a couple bright dribbles on the break, ought to have helped out Power more against the lively Blackett-Taylor.

Man of the Match

Luke O’Nien