Tony Mowbray is refusing to use Sunderland's lack of strikers as an excuse after the Black Cats drew a blank for a second successive game. The Black Cats are still operating without a centre-forward, with leading scorer Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms sidelined through injury.
And they followed Saturday's goalless draw against Preston at the Stadium of Light with another goalless game against Blackpool on Wearside. But despite the lack of goals against the Seasiders, Mowbray was pleased with his side's performance - particularly in the first half - and the back-to-back clean sheets they have kept.
Sunderland's lack of firepower is bound to be the post-match talking point, but Mowbray does not want that to become the narrative. "We are playing without our main striker [Stewart], who is second-top scorer in the league, and when you look at all the data he is right up there at the top of every stat and he hasn't played for us for three or four games," said Mowbray.
