MICK McCarthy last night admitted that Sunderland's third place finish was a fair reflection of their First Division campaign, writes Scott Wilson.

But, with yesterday's 2-1 win over Burnley booking a play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace, the Black Cats boss pledged to turn the promise of the last nine months into the prize of promotion.

Reaching the Premiership seemed a distant dream when Sunderland began the season with back to back defeats that extended their mammoth losing run to 17 games.

They might have missed out on an automatic return to the top-flight following relegation last year, but the Black Cats have regained their pride with a series of stirring displays that have taken the club into the annual end of season lottery.

And, with just three more games standing between Sunderland and promotion, McCarthy is confident that there could be more celebrations to come.

"We got to the stage where we thought we might win it or finish second, but it eluded us and to finish third is an achievement," said the former Republic of Ireland boss. "Perhaps this is our rightful position.

"I'm satisfied with what we have achieved so far, of course I am. It would be wrong to say that we haven't achieved anything. I think the players have done remarkably well. They have been excellent for the club and it has gone as well as we could have hoped for.

"But we want to get promoted - that would be an even better achievement."

Sunderland will travel to Selhurst Park on Friday night with the memory of last month's 3-0 reverse to the Eagles still fresh in their minds.

That defeat was precipitated by Mart Poom's first-half dismissal and, while it finally ended any hope of a top two spot, revenge will not be top of the agenda in four days' time.

"We just want to win the game and get to the final," said McCarthy, after watching Gary Breen and Kevin Kyle earn his side's ninth away win of the season at Turf Moor. "However you want to dress it up, it's just about beating Palace and getting through."

Iain Dowie's side were out of the play-off picture until West Ham scored a dramatic last-minute equaliser at Wigan and, after Sunderland's 1-0 win over Norwich last week, the Black Cats suddenly find themselves as the side hitting form at the right time. "Everybody keeps talking about the four or five games when we didn't win," said McCarthy. "Now it has gone the other way and we have two victories to take into the play-offs. That is nice.

"We have had a change of fortunes after enduring a bad run when we didn't want one. We had a victory against Norwich, a well-earned victory, which was a great boost for us.

"And to come to Burnley and beat a team who have some good footballers is another boost."

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