Stewart saves the day for Sunderland against Seasiders
TONY MOWBrAY is doing his best to calm the nerves of Sunderland fans over ross Stewart’s contract talks — but is fully aware he needs attacking reinforcements to sustain a promotion challenge.
Scotland striker Stewart is stalling over a new deal as he seeks better terms, and proved his worth with a crucial equaliser at Blackpool to keep his team in the Championship top six.
He headed in Trai Hume’s cross midway through the second half to cancel out Shayne Lavery’s first-half opener for the hosts, who finished with 10 men after Callum Connolly was sent off for dragging back Jack Clarke.
Stewart’s goal gave Mowbray some cheer after a testing few days, during which a virus ripped through his squad and he lost striker ellis Simms, recalled early from a loan stint by everton.
‘ross has 18 months left on his contract,’ the Sunderland manager said. ‘He knows he’s at a football club with a huge support base, a huge potential and some really talented players creating chances for him.
‘i don’t think ross is in any rush to do anything and i don’t think the club are in any rush other than to entice him to sign a new contract and i’m sure those conversations will be ongoing.’
Mowbray, though, plans to move quickly in the transfer market after losing Simms, who scored seven goals in 17 games for Sunderland during his loan spell. ‘i think ellis going back has accelerated some of the discussions we’ve had,’ Mowbray said. ‘i can’t stand here and say something’s going to happen this week, but discussions are ongoing.
‘The club are at the right end of the table, and that helps, in the sense that we should be trying to invest now because the team are doing so well.’
After going behind to Lavery’s goal, neatly slotted in after a speedy break by CJ Hamilton, Sunderland hit the bar twice — first through Amad diallo, right on half-time, and then through Stewart, who steered Clarke’s perfectly judged pass an inch too high.
But they fought back to extend Blackpool’s winless run to nine matches, with Connolly incurring their seventh red card of the season after picking up a second booking in stoppage time for his foul on Clarke.
Blackpool boss Michael Appleton, whose team remain in the bottom three, said: ‘When you do concede that equaliser, with the run we’re on, you do fear the worst at times, but the players stood up to it. i thought we deserved the point.’ BLACKPOOL 1 SUNDERLAND 1