TONY MOWBRAY has told Sunderland supporters to ‘keep dreaming’ after his side signed off for 2022 in style with a 4-1 win at Wigan Athletic.

The Black Cats claimed their joint-biggest win of the season as goals from Ellis Simms, Ross Stewart, Patrick Roberts and Amad Diallo saw them return to the play-off positions.

They are sitting in fourth position as they prepare for their New Year’s Day game at Blackpool, and while Mowbray will be ensuring his players keep their feet on the ground, he is more than happy for the club’s supporters to have lofty ambitions for what might be possible in the second half of the campaign.

“We’re competing,” said the Sunderland boss, who watched his side win in front of almost 4,500 travelling fans this evening. “The target for this team was to stay in the league and compete in mid-table and see where we go.

“That might be the case come the end of the season, depending on how the squad survives the rigours of the season. But at the moment the fans can dream because we're right in the mix with loads of other teams.

“We're mindful that you can lose a couple of games and be in 15th, and we've got tough games around the corner, so we just have to keep competing and keep picking up points.”

Mowbray was delighted with his side’s performance at the DW Stadium, although he admits he was frustrated when Wigan briefly pegged Sunderland back at the end of the first half.

The Black Cats had been the dominant side throughout the opening 45 minutes, but Wigan levelled on the stroke of half-time when Will Keane tapped home the rebound after Anthony Patterson was unable to hold on to a long-range shot.

“I was really frustrated at half-time, I told them that they should have been 3-1 or 4-1 up,” said Mowbray. “We let them off the hook.

“I felt as if they were wary of us and our talent, they didn't commit too many players to the press or with the energy that I'd seen them play with against Middlesbrough.

“I thought they were a dangerous team, but it felt as if they were on the back foot. I think that's a lack of experience, you have to smell your opportunity, over-commit and get people in the box.

“They did carry a threat towards the end of the half and you have to respect that, and until we got the third and fourth goal it was always in the balance.”

The third and fourth goals came courtesy of a deflected strike from Roberts and a sensational curled effort from Amad, with the pair combining superbly after Roberts left the bench.

“I've said before that I have to find a way of getting these two players on the pitch, and yet with the injuries today, I felt that the only shape to keep players in positions they know was to go with a back three,” said Mowbray.

“That is why Patrick came out of the team. It was harsh on him and when he plays with Amad - it's quite amazing to watch really.

“It must be frustrating to play against, too. It's my job to get them on the pitch at the same time but it might not always be from the start.”