TONY MOWBRAY does not think there is any reason to overreact to Sunderland’s crushing 5-1 defeat to Stoke City – equalling the heaviest defeat endured at the Stadium of Light.

But the Black Cats boss accepts there needs to be a drive in the summer transfer window to address the lack of options in his squad.

With leading scorer Ross Stewart sidelined through injury and Ellis Simms back at Everton, Sunderland are reliant on Joe Gelhardt to lead the line.

And while the Leeds loanee has plenty of promise, Mowbray knows Sunderland do not possess the type of player that allows him to mix things up in the final third.

Mowbray said: “If Ross Stewart was fit we would undoubtedly have looked to play a long ball against Stoke. If you play long balls they can’t press. We know that.

“We have Gelhardt at 5ft 7, Patrick Roberts at 5ft 6, Jack Clarke who is not a header of the ball. We haven’t got a target. We have to find a way to score goals.”

He added: “We prepare next week for Norwich. Before last week, it had been October since we lost an away game. We know it’s a tough task to go to Norwich, they will try to play with the ball.

“We keep going with this team and try to improve them, be brave. The next window comes along and we must look to make sure we get Plan B. Then you can go over the top, drop diagonals over their press. At the minute it doesn’t feel like we have that option.”

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The performance of Sunderland this season – sitting six points from sixth spot after promotion from League One – has been rightly lauded. The challenge now, though, is for the young squad to find a positive reaction following a run of three consecutive defeats.

And the question is whether Sunderland’s promising players have the character to go with the talent – with games with promotion hopefuls Norwich, Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley up next.

Mowbray, whose side had only previously lost by two goals twice this season, said: “We will find out. I feel pretty secure most of the year. The hard work has been done.

“We have a tough month, Norwich away, top teams to play this month, it looks difficult on paper. We trust in ourselves that we can go and compete. It has been good enough to get us results so far.

“There isn’t expectations at this club, so we shouldn’t be sitting thinking we are dropping away from the play-off positions. Any team up from League One should be wanting to solidify."