Ryan Lowe has warned Sunderland there is no chance his Preston side will be 'on the beach' for Monday's crucial last-day clash at Deepdale. The Black Cats head to Lancashire needing to win to stand a chance of securing a play-off place, although they also need at least one other result to go in their favour.
As for Preston, their faint play-off hopes were killed off last weekend when they lost 4-1 at Sheffield United, meaning they go into the final game on the back of a four-game winless streak and with nothing to play for but pride. However, even if there is nothing riding on the game in terms of the play-offs from Preston's point of view, Lowe insists his team wants to at least finish the season on a high in front of their home fans.
"It's a massive game," said Lowe, who will be watching from the stands on Monday as he begins a three-game touchline ban. "It's not just one where we think we can have our flip flops on and think we're on the beach - no chance!
READ MORE: Tony Mowbray will not worry about results elsewhere as Sunderland focus on task in hand at Preston
"It's the last game of the season, we want to send the fans home happy with something to say 'ok, can we go a little bit better next season.' I want the players to go out with a bang but ultimately we know there's a good team in Sunderland standing in our way, and we've got to make sure we're on it because they're trying to get into the play-offs.
"What we can't do is turn up at 60 or 70 percent because you'll get beat. What we have to do is turn up 100 percent and knowing there is a game on our hands and hopefully we can put Saturday's game [at Bramall Lane] and result behind us with a positive result."
Lowe has praised the job Tony Mowbray has done at Sunderland since he took over from former Preston boss Alex Neil at the end of August, ensuring the Black Cats have at no time been in any danger of relegation in their first season back in the Championship and instead mounting a concerted play-off challenge which has gone all the way to the last day. "Fantastic," he said of the job Mowbray has done.
"I think Tony Mowbray has gone in there and people would have just thought they'd consolidate in the league this season because they have only just gone up. Since Alex Neil left they have been fantastic, they have been a breath of fresh air to watch, even watching them now.
"The players, the way they play, the way they interchange, the movement of them. They have got a few whippets in their team let me tell you.
"And they are well organised and well drilled and well coached. I think Tony has done a fantastic job with a fantastic football club I must say."
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