Tony can smell blood when deadly hitmen return to fold

SUNDERLAND grabbed a point away to Luton and manager Tony Mowbray says he has the makings of a good side when their strikers get fit.

Carlton Morris gave Luton a first-half lead, before Elliot Embleton levelled for Sunderland 12 minutes from time.

But Mowbray was happy that Ellis Simms returned for the final 20 minutes after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. With Ross Stewart not due to return from a thigh injury until after the World Cup, the side has been light up front.

“We’ve been playing without strikers for seven weeks so it is great to see Ellis back,” said Mowbray.

“It is really hard to keep the ball up front with a team of midfielders.”

In a lively first half, it took until two minutes into stoppage time for the home side to break the deadlock, as Carlton Morris worked some space to get on the end of Alfie Doughty’s near-post cross to score.

Before that, the woodwork had been rattled three times. First by a Doughty header, then twice by the Black Cats, from a fierce Leon Dajaku shot and then a Danny Batth header. Ethan Horvath had also saved well from Jack

Clarke and Amad Diallo.

But, as time ticked away, Embleton, in a crowded area, grabbed the equaliser.

Luton manager Nathan Jones said: “The fans know these players never shirk. They back the team and gave us a rousing reaction.” LUTON: Horvath 7; Bree 6, Lockyer 7, Potts 6; Doughty 7 (Mpanzu (71) 5), Lansbury 5 (Freeman (30) 7), Clark 6, Bell 7; Campbell 6 (Bradley (71) 6); Adebayo 7 (Jerome (85) 5), Morris 7 (Cornick (71) 7)

SUNDERLAND: Patterson 6; O’Nien 6, Wright 6, Batth 7, Cirkin 5; Evans 6 (Simms (71) 6); Neil 5 (Michut (61) 6), Pritchard 6 (Embleton (61) 7), Dajaku 5 (Roberts (61) 7), Diallo 7, Clarke 7

STAR MAN: Jack Clarke – Constant threat down the left side and set up equaliser.

REF: James Linington 6