Tony Mowbray's sees Sunderland's FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham as a chance for his side to test their credentials against Premier League opposition - and insists he will not 'put the kids in' this weekend. The Black Cats' Championship campaign takes precedence but the head coach is not taking the cup lightly, not least because he respects Sunderland's history in the competition and this is the 50th anniversary of the club's famous triumph against Leeds United at Wembley in 1973.
Sunderland are part of a pack of clubs who are in with a chance of a Championship play-off place and Mowbray says Saturday's game at Craven Cottage is an opportunity to measure themselves against a Fulham side that finished top of the pile last season to earn promotion to the top flight and now sits seventh in the table and is in with a chance of European qualification. "The history of every football club is crucially important," said Mowbray.
"I'm very conscious of 50 years ago [when Sunderland last lifted the FA Cup]. We want to do well, but we have to put into context that we're playing against a team that is one of the form teams in the Premier League at this moment.
