Tony Mowbray refused to blame Sunderland's second-half collapse against Burnley on youthful inexperience - insisting instead he just needs longer to work with his new charges. The Black Cats let a 2-0 half-time lead slip on Saturday at the Stadium of Light, with the Clarets going on to win 4-2 in a game of completely contrasting halves.
Sunderland allowed Burnley a route back into the game from a set-piece soon after the break and, from that point on, the equaliser looked to be only a matter of time, and when that went in it seemed inevitable that Burnley would go on to complete the turnaround. That led to questions over whether Sunderland's lack of experience was a factor, with their starting line-up containing seven players aged 23 or under, including four 20-year-olds, while the three substitutes brought on in the second half were all teenagers yet to make a Championship start.
But Mowbray did not feel that was a factor, adding: "I don't want to sit and make excuses. This is our football team, this is our club, it's not about the age of the players.
