Sunderland are on a similar pathway of gradual improvement as this weekend's opponents Luton Town, according to Tony Mowbray. Both the Black Cats and the Hatters have refused to throw big money around in the transfer market chasing short-term success - a route that has led many Championship clubs into financial problems - preferring instead to concentrate on savvy recruitment and a more patient approach.
While Sunderland embarked on this journey when Kyril Louis-Dreyfus took over in 2020, Luton started years earlier and it has powered their rise from the Conference through League Two, to winning League One in 2018-19 - when the Black Cats finished fifth at the same level - and then to steady improvement in the Championship, finishing 19th in their first season back in the second tier, then 12th, and then last year sixth and competing in the play-offs. With gates of 40,000, Sunderland have a huge financial advantage over Luton but Mowbray insists the Black Cats are taking a similar approach to Nathan Jones' side.
"I think that's the journey we are on," said Mowbray. "I'm sure everyone is aware that there is a plan at this football club of how we are going to do it, building incrementally, rather than throwing tens of millions at it, it's important to build.
