KEVIN KYLE'S sweet right foot finish and Marcus Stewart's bullet header. Descriptions for goals you would normally credit the other way around.

Sunderland's No 1 strikeforce chose the perfect time to prove to their doubters they do possess the necessary attributes to fire Mick McCarthy's men into the Premiership; it's just a shame Darren Powell's late, late header sent the game to extra-time and the Black Cats lost the lottery that is penalties.

Though neither took part in the shoot-out - regular penalty taker Stewart having been substituted and Kyle not stepping forward - their example of quality finishing very nearly secured the crucial scoreline all on Wearside crave.

Tommy Smith's reassuring words to the Sunderland faithful on the morning before kick-off suggested they had the firepower to reach the Cardiff final and beyond - and they rang true last night.

That task was charged, once again, to Messrs Kyle and Stewart - the pair McCarthy has hailed as his preferred choice all season.

There may have been occasions when Smith, Darren Byfield or even Michael Proctor have started but, on the whole, the Sunderland boss has pinned his faith on the little and large combination.

And, while criticism has fallen on the shoulders of Kyle and Stewart at times, their particular partnership is the one that has produced the most goals.

According to many observers, a 20-goals-a-season striker would have secured a place in the top two for Sunderland, but why would it?

Neither Norwich nor West Brom had a man to reach that target; in fact they didn't even have a man who scored as many as Stewart.

Sixteen goals from 30 starts represents marginally better than one goal every two games.

Darren Huckerby and Rob Hulse can only boast 13 and 11 respectively; so have goals really been in that short supply at the Stadium of Light? Particularly when you consider Kyle has 12 in his own personal league total.

Six of Stewart's goals have come from the penalty spot and that has clearly contributed to his tally.

It looked as if Stewart could have done with a spot-kick last night to give them the equalising goal on aggregate. That was until the pair's end of half heroics.

Scotland international Kyle is never likely to be battling for supremacy at the top of the leading scoring charts but he does offer unrivalled commitment in the final third by ruffling defenders - he grabs the odd goal as well.

And, as half time neared, there he was with a superbly taken goal after chesting down Jason McAteer's deep cross from the right.

Not to be outdone, Stewart then arrived on cue to meet another McAteer centre with a flying header just to prove McCarthy has been right to stick by 2004's No 9 and No 10. Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips will be proud.

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