On a rain-soaked day at Deepdale, the elements couldn't dampen Tony Mowbray's spirits as Sunderland secured a stunning 3-0 victory over Preston North End on May 8, 2023—a win that clinched an unlikely play-off berth for the newly-promoted side.

For a team in their first season back in the Championship, a promotion push wasn't exactly on the cards. The campaign had been anything but straightforward, with Alex Neil departing early for Stoke City after clashing with the club's hierarchy. But Neil's exit paved the way for Mowbray, a manager whose father-figure approach proved tailor-made for Sunderland's youthful squad.

Mowbray's warmth and authenticity struck an instant chord with young attacking talents like Amad, Jack Clarke, and Patrick Roberts. His man-management style unlocked their potential, creating a team that could score goals in bunches—even if defensive solidity sometimes took a backseat. The result? A season that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The team's form was streaky, to say the least. They'd rattle off four or five consecutive wins, then drop just as many. But as the season wound down, the Black Cats found their groove again. Crucial victories away to Cardiff and West Bromwich Albion, plus a home win against Birmingham City, set up a dramatic final-day showdown for the last play-off spot against Millwall and Coventry City.

The equation was simple: Sunderland needed maximum points at Preston and hoped Millwall would stumble at home against Blackburn Rovers. At halftime, the score was 0-0 at Deepdale, while Millwall appeared to be cruising into the play-offs with a 3-1 lead. But in a breathtaking climax to the regular season, Mowbray's men held up their end of the bargain, and the football gods delivered the rest.