Tony Mowbray explains decision to bench strikers in Sunderland's defeat vs Stoke City

Sunderland lost 2-1 away at Stoke City on Saturday.

Luke Phelps | Oct 23, 2023

Tony Mowbray explains decision to bench strikers in Sunderland's defeat vs Stoke City /

Sunderland lost 2-1 away at Stoke City on Saturday, handing Tony Mowbray's side a second-straight defeat in the Championship.

Sunderland headed to the bet365 Stadium on Saturday to face former boss Alex Neil and his Stoke City side.

But Mowbray couldn't get one over his predecessor, watching his side lose 2-1 on the day, with Jack Clarke on the scoresheet for the Black Cats.

Mowbray's XI on the day didn't have a single striker in it; Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts were the most forward players, with Mason Burstow and Nazariy Rusyn coming off the bench later on.

And speaking after the game, Mowbray explained his decision to bench Burstow and Rusyn.

He's quoted as saying:

“Mason didn’t come back to training until Friday, and it was the same with Nazariy Rusyn, who had been away with Ukraine. Jewison Bennette didn’t actually get back until after our training session on Friday. He flew 11 hours from Costa Rica, you can’t play in those circumstances."

Mowbray added:

“You have to train and prepare for the game, and we’d had Pritchard and Roberts working with us all week. Training was tough on Friday in the conditions with Storm Babet, so it was a very difficult preparation if I’m trying to defend the team a little bit. Of course, I know it was probably the same for Stoke City. We have to accept that defeat is part of the game and try to bounce back on Tuesday."

Up next for Sunderland is a trip to Leicester City tomorrow night.

The Black Cats remain in 6th but another defeat could throw them out of the top six, with seven teams within two points of Sunderland, including Middlesbrough down in 13th.

Tomorrow's game kicks off at 8pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

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