Tony Mowbray is backing Sunderland's attacking flair to win the day as the Black Cats face one of the best defences in the Championship in the play-off semi-final. Sunderland secured sixth place and a play-off spot on the final day of the season this week, earning them them the right to take on Luton Town, who finished third, over two legs for a place in the Wembley final.
Only champions Burnley conceded fewer goals than Luton over the course of the season, with Rob Edwards' Hatters conceding 39 times - the same number as Sheffield United, who finished second - compared to Vincent Kompany's Clarets' 35. Luton also kept 20 clean sheets in their 46 games, the same number as Coventry City who finished fifth in the table, while Burnley led the way with 21.
But, while Sunderland have been without star striker Ross Stewart for almost three-quarters of the season due to injury and the club has had to operate without a centre-forward at all for around half the campaign, attacking flair players such as on-loan Manchester United forward Amad, Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, and Alex Pritchard, helped the Black Cats score 68 league goals - a tally bettered only by Burnley (87), Middlesbrough (84), and Sheffield United (73). Not only that, but they have also scored in all-but one of their last 30 games in all competitions.
