SHORT ’N SWEET
Mowbray’s minnows are doing it the Barca way
TONY MOWBRAY wants Sunderland to summon the spirit of Barcelona – as he puts his mini marvels up against Luton’s giants for a place in the play-off final at Wembley.
Mowbray’s side outplayed Luton with slick passing in the first leg, fielding 10 outfield players who were on average four inches per man shorter than the opposition, who they beat 2-1.
The Sunderland boss adapted tactics earlier in the season after losing target man Ross Stewart to injury and Ellis Simms being recalled by Everton.
That has meant a pint-sized front five of Amad Diallo, Patrick Roberts, Alex Pritchard, Jack Clarke and Joe Gelhardt playing in spaces and moving the ball well.
He said: “We all used to watch great Spanish football on TV in 2010, 11 and 12. We were all watching Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Messi, popping it around.
“I am not trying to compare us to Barcelona. I am just saying there was a team with lots of small players in their set-up.
“Ok, they had Gerard Pique at the back, but you have to keep the ball, keep it on the grass, play to your strengths, and not get sucked into a game that doesn’t suit you.
“The difficulty with this match is the intensity, the urgency, the importance of it. The danger is getting sucked into a fight where you get out-punched.”
Mowbray’s kids practised penalties yesterday before their five-hour coach journey under orders just “to whack it” if it comes down to a shoot-out for Wembley.
He said: “I left them practising out there. What I dictate to them is one thing.
“If I have seven people taking a penalty and I watch them and I have one of these guys who takes two steps, stops looks at the goal and decides to hit a soft one… he is not taking one!
“I would rather they just whack it in the net.
“I don’t know who will be on the pitch. Who is confident? Who is having a shocker? Who is a penalty taker, but just missed a sitter and doesn’t want to take one? We will decide on the night, and what will be will be.”
Sunderland could face a Luton barrage of high balls into the box and crosses and England Under-21 keeper Anthony Patterson has been backed to continue his excellent form.
He is following Jordan Pickford, another Sunderland academy product, into the big time and Mowbray said: “He is a big solid guy.
“Patter is calm, quiet and does a great job. He takes crosses, positionally very good, brave with the confidence and ability of a young guy.”