On a calamitous day for Sunderland fans they were relegated at the Stadium of Light as Burton Albion snatched a dramatic late win.

They become only the fifth team ever to suffer back to back relegations from the top flight and now face only their second spell outside the top two divisions in their history.

It had been going so well for Chris Coleman's men, leading through a 34th minute Paddy McNair goal they appeared comfortable, but late strikes from former striker Darren Bent and Liam Boyce ended their brief stay in the Championship in the cruellest fashion.

However, Coleman revealed his players didn't realise they'd been relegated until they got into the dressing room.

"Yes (they didn’t know), word spread when they got back in the dressing room," Coleman is reported as saying in the Daily Mail. "Everyone got a bit confused. It was after I left the dressing room, towards the end of what I said. But we didn’t have what was needed. It’s a brutal experience but, over 44 games, we haven’t been good enough."

The confusion arose because Sunderland have 34 points, six fewer than Bolton and four fewer than both Burton and Barnsley. It looks as though they could stay up on goal difference, but Burton play Bolton and one of those sides will move on to 41 points, sending the Black Cats down whatever they do in the next two matches.

The Verdict

Should we be surprised that the players didn't realise they were relegated? Surely, any side embroiled in a battle at the bottom should know what the different permutations are before they step out onto the pitch?

The season has been a disaster for fans on Wearside, made even worse by the fact it was Darren Bent who scored one of the damaging goals.

They'll bounce back, but that won't be of any comfort right now.

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