Sunderland Promotion Odds: Black Cats face Play-Off Final struggle
Will Jackson 
Sunderland booked their place in the Championship Play-Off Final on Tuesday night after beating Coventry deep into extra-time.
Dan Ballard's header sealed a 1-1 draw on the night, enough to take Sunderland through on aggregate and set up a date with Sheffield United at Wembley, a game for which the Blades are comfortable favourites with UK betting sites.
But does their value in football betting markets represent good value, or is it a fair reflection of where the two teams are?
Sunderland Promotion Odds
After the semi-finals have finished, it is no surprise to see Sheffield United ranked as clear favourites to win promotion back to the Premier League.
The Blades brushed Bristol City aside with ease over their semi-final, winning 6-0 on aggregate courtesy of two 3-0 victories, whereas Sunderland were more workmanlike in a 2-1 win and a 1-1 draw.
And when you compare it to the league table, it is pretty clear that Sheffield United are the side heading to Wembley with the greater expectation on their shoulders.
The Blades finished the regular season with 90 points - and two deducted - a huge 14 points ahead of Sunderland, who themselves were firmly ensconced in fourth and well ahead of Coventry.
Chris Wilder's side were firmly in the running for the top two until a late collapse, whereas Sunderland dropped out of the race quite a bit earlier on which would explain their lack of points and form at the end of the season.
So on current form and form over the course of the season, Sheffield United look like fair favourites, but how do the two teams stack against each other?
Previous Meetings
Sheffield United 1-0 Sunderland
Sunderland 2-1 Sheffield United
There's nothing to split the two teams in terms of head-to-head this season, with the home side winning on both occasions yet both coming against the run of play.
However one thing we must note is the timing of these games, with the first leg taking place on November 29 and the second weeks later on January 1.
Since then, both sides have invested significantly in their playing squads and in Sunderland's case, their form failed off massively towards the end of the season having appeared as a genuine top two contender for most of the campaign.
In particular, Sheffield United's January additions have made significant contributions while Enzo Le Fee arrived on Wearside and has had an impact - even if it hasn't been as dramatic as would have been hoped for.
The game at Wembley will take a different shape to the two previous games, so perhaps we shouldn't take too much from the previous matches, especially as they were so early on in the season.
