Tony Mowbray knows the bar will be raised next season after Sunderland's promising first campaign back in the Championship - and he is relishing the challenge. The Black Cats have exceeded expectations this term following their promotion from League One via the play-offs, with mere survival never part of the conversation on Wearside.
Instead, Sunderland have spent much of the season in and around the play-off race, with their chances only fading over the the last month or so as injuries have exposed the shortcomings of the squad. But next term, with the likes of star striker Ross Stewart and influential skipper Corry Evans set to return from the injuries that ended their involvement early this season, and a summer transfer window in which to strengthen the squad, there will be pressure to build on this season's achievements.
"The bigger picture now is that in the summer, we have to get recruitment right and players back that we know are important for this team," said Mowbray, in the wake of this weekend's 1-1 draw against fourth-placed Luton Town, who are on course to reach the play-offs for a second successive season. "It'll be a different challenge next year, and I'd like to get to the point where if we draw 1-1 with Luton Town, we're all really disappointed because we've got some really good players and a team we think should be beating Luton.
