.jpg) The match took place at Wembley Stadium. | |||||||
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| Date | 28 May 1990 | ||||||
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| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Referee | John Martin (Alton, Hampshire) | ||||||
| Attendance | 72,873 | ||||||
| Weather | Bright sunshine | ||||||
The 1990 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match which was played on 28 May 1990 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Sunderland and Swindon Town. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division, the second tier of English football, to the First Division. The top two teams of the 1989–90 Football League Second Division season gained automatic promotion to the First Division, while the clubs placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; Swindon Town ended the season in fourth position, two places ahead of Sunderland. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 1990–91 season in the First Division. Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers were the losing semi-finalists. This was the first season that the play-off final was determined over a single match and the first to be held at Wembley.
The match was refereed by John Martin and played in sunny conditions in front of a Wembley crowd of 72,873 spectators. Although Sunderland made a better start, Swindon dominated the fixture and after missing a number of chances, took the lead midway through the first half when Alan McLoughlin scored via a deflection from Gary Bennett. Swindon had several further chances to score but the second half was goalless and the match ended 1–0. Swindon Town were later demoted two divisions after being found guilty of financial irregularities which resulted in Sunderland gaining promotion. On appeal, Swindon's punishment was reduced to immediate relegation back to the Second Division.
Swindon ended their following season in 21st place in the Second Division, two points above the relegation zone. Sunderland were relegated back to the Second Division by the end of the next season, finishing in 19th place.