MOWBRAY’S TALKING UP THE MISSUS

TONY MOWBRAY summed up Sunderland’s striker shortage by claiming his 5ft tall wife could give his makeshift target men a run for their money.

WIth Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms out injured, the Black Cats used midfielder Elliot Embleton and Alex Pritchard up front.

Head coach Mowbray (above with Preston boss Ryan Lowe) insisted his side can still be dangerous but said: “The difficulty we have is that we haven’t got Ross or Ellis there who can challenge for the first ball. We’ve Pritchard and Embleton.

“My missus who’s five foot tall could probably give them a good contest in the air.”

Mowbray has been in charge of five games, including two wins and two draws, and summed up his start by saying: “The team is competing really well. The environment they have to play football in is amazing.

“The crowd is a massive asset for this team and this club and we have to use it.

“It doesn’t mean we just bash it forward, it means in the course of a game when we need a goal you have to use the emotion of the crowd.

“We’d have liked to control this game a bit more.”

Preston keeper Freddie Woodman, once of Newcastle, celebrated another clean sheet after leaving the Geordies this summer.

In fact, North End have not conceded a goal away from home in the Championship this season.

Woodman said: “Sunderland fans probably don’t like me and I don’t like Sunderland much! But fair play to them, they were fantastic, and our fans too. It was a special atmosphere.

“I had a few of my mates from up the road in Newcastle messaging me nice words of encouragement. A few people said to do the Shearer celebration but I was never going to do that!

“I can’t be grateful enough to Newcastle for giving me a chance but I’m buzzing at Preston now.”