Phil Bardsley says that he will not exactly be Mr Popular in his home town of Salford after scoring the goal that took the game at Old Trafford to extra time last night.
Salford-born Bardsley used to ply his trade with Manchester United and his old side looked like going through to the final of the Capital One cup to face City until Bardsley’s goal in the final minute of extra time.
That lead to a United equaliser and a penalty shoot out which Sunderland won, but last night Bardsley was not thinking about his time at United, he was no doubt thinking about Roy Keane who brought the player to the Stadium of Light during his spell as manager at the club.
And also Gus Poyet who gave him another chance after it looked like he was on his way out of the club during the reign of Paolo Di Canio.
Bardsley told the Sunderland Echo: ‘My emotions are going through the roof. I don’t know what to say.
‘I’m not sure I’ll be allowed back into Salford, but it doesn’t matter. Sunderland are going to Wembley and that’s all that matters to me. To take this club to Wembley and to be part of such a great day out will be phenomenal.
‘I probably wasn’t one of their popular players six months ago, but that’s football. Hopefully I have turned that around and being part of this club going to Wembley is something special.’
During the penalty shoot out, only Marcos Alonso and Ki Sung-yueng netted from the spot while Vito Mannone’s stop of Rafael da Silva’s effort ultimately sent the Black Cats to Wembley.
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In my book bards is totally forgiven for anything that he has eve done at the club, he’ll forever be remembered for THAT goal