Tony Mowbray Had Nothing To Do With Sunderland Slump – Former Black Cat

Former Sunderland star Marco Gabbiadini believes that Tony Mowbray is not to blame for the Black Cats’ recent struggles and thinks that a new manager will face the same problems that the Englishman did.

Sunderland are ninth in the Championship table and have picked up only eight points from their last nine games.

The Black Cats hierarchy decided to part ways with Mowbray after their 1-1 draw against Millwall at the weekend.

Gabbiadini admitted that he was shocked by Sunderland’s decision to sack Mowbray and believes that the Black Cats’ recent struggles have nothing to do with the 60-year-old tactician.

He also believes that the new manager will face the same struggles that Mowbray faced at Sunderland and he raised the question of whether the new Black Cats boss will be able to tackle those to take the club forward.

“I am sort of shocked because everybody liked Tony Mowbray and liked the football he was delivering”, Gabbiadini said on Total Sport North East.

“Now we have had some issues recently; results have not been great in the last few weeks, but I think the reason for that was not to do with Tony Mowbray.

“So that is the bit I find difficult.

“Whoever comes in is going to have the same problems and are they going to have the same skillset to get through it and keep the team moving forward, or better than they are doing?”

Sunderland are set to face West Bromwich Albion at the weekend and it remains to be seen whether they will be able to appoint a manager before that game.