CATS WHO GOT THE CREAM

Tony's tigers claw path to the top

- SIMON BIRD

ASK Tony Mowbray how he has managed to haul Sunderland to within three games of the Premier League and he will make it sound simple.

But it has been far from that. Obstacle after obstacle, blow after blow, has been overcome.

He is guiding a team of kids and a defence crippled by injuries, including having no fit centre-halves for the two-legged semi-final against Luton.

Mowbray lost his star striker Ross Stewart to injury twice and Ellis Simms was recalled by Everton, leaving no centre-forward to lead the line for months.

Skipper Corry Evans suffered a long-term knee injury in January and there was a nine-game winless run up to April and a slump to 12th.

Yet somehow a Black Cats team full of ball-playing talent has passed and moved their way to the playoffs.