Ellis Taylor has taken to social media to react to Sunderland U21s’ dramatic win in the PL2 play-off quarter-final.
Sunderland U21s enjoyed four wins from their final five games of the normal season, which left them seventh in the league table ahead of the play-offs.
The Black Cats thrashed Wolves in the Round of 16 and confirmed their next outing against West Ham – a much harder test against the second-place finishers.
Sunderland conceded just on half-time on home soil, with their play-off hopes looking to be over as they game entered the final stages.
However, a sixth goal of the season for Ellis Taylor took the two teams level and forced extra-time. From then on, there was chaos.
Caden Kelly and Tom Watson were forced to net another two equalisers during extra-time, while West Ham also missed a penalty, before the tie came down to a shoot-out.
Sunderland enjoyed a spotless shoot-out, with West Ham’s Keenan Appiah-Forson proving to be the only player not to score.
The Black Cats now progress to the semi-finals and will take on sixth-place Reading, who finished just one point above them.
Ellis Taylor hails ‘special team’
Ellis Taylor proved to be one of a number of heroes at Eppleton CW and has since reacted to the dramatic victory.
He wrote on X: “Special team, special plays, special players! Absolute pleasure to be apart of. Let’s go the whole way now!”
The first part of the midfielder’s post is in reference to an American Twitch streamer known as Sketch.
Taylor has been a regular for Sunderland this term, picking up six goals and two assists in only 14 games.
With his contract expiring this summer, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding his future.
He was involved in the first-team squad on numerous occasions earlier this season, before suffering an injury setback.
Will the 21-year-old be offered a new deal?
It is yet to be seen what will come of his contract situation, but he remains a key part of the U21s side and can play an important role in their bid for play-off success.
Taylor will surely be eager to follow Chris Rigg and Dan Neil’s success in the senior squad, but whether he can make that jump remains to be seen.
The youngster will turn 22 years old next term and it begs the question as to whether his chance to make an impact on the first team is on the verge of passing by.
The Black Cats’ squad is currently very young, so if Taylor is unable to force his way into the set-up next season, then a new contract could be a waste.
