TONY Mowbray says his Sunderland side will be "positive and aggressive" in the coming home games as the Black Cats look to gatecrash the Championship's top six.

After the impressive Easter Monday victory at Cardiff City, attention now turns to Saturday's visit of Birmingham City which is followed by another Stadium of Light outing against Neil Warnock's improving Huddersfield next Tuesday.

Despite their lowly positions in the Championship table, Birmingham are unbeaten in four and Huddersfield haven't lost in five - but Mowbray wants maximum points from the games.

And if Sunderland manage that, the head coach says there'll be real belief on Wearside that his team can force their way into the top six.

Monday's win at Cardiff lifted Sunderland to 10th, just four points shy of the play-off places.

"We have two home games coming up now, we have to be really positive and aggressive and try to get maximum points from those games," said Mowbray

"I know I keep playing it down but we'll see where we go.

"There's no pressure on this group to force their way into the top six but if we win football matches you never know.

"If we can win the next two games we should go into the last couple really believing we can threaten the top end of the table."

For the last couple of weeks, Mowbray has told of his desire to keep the season alive for the sake of the fans. He feels a connection between the players and fans and wants to reward those in the stands for their support this season.

"I went for a walk around Cardiff on Monday morning and it felt like the whole of the city was full of Sunderland fans," he said.

"It's just important for the team to know that we can work and chase and run and play attractive football and create chances and win games for the people who spend lots and lots of money and time travelling to watch them play football.

"It's really important there's a connection between this group of players and the supporters.

"We're trying our very best to be a team they enjoy watching and we're doing it without a natural centre-forward and still finding a way. Generally we're scoring goals and doing OK and picking up points along the way."

Danny Batth is urging his Sunderland teammates to embrace the excitement of the run-in ahead of the Birmingham visit. Batth was at the heart of an inexperienced and makeshift backline at Cardiff and was delighted with the way a young Black Cats team showed maturity to see the game out - particularly on the back of the late heartbreak against Hull.

He says game-management will be important in the run-in.

"Look at the Hull game, we concede the late goal that cost us," said Batth.

"There are various parts in the season where you kick yourself, if a man goes down or we keep the ball in the corner we walk away with three points. At Cardiff we did really well to nullify their threat and were smart in the way we defended.

"At this stage of the season we have to rest and recover. The lads were out on their feet in the last 10 to 15 minutes. We need to rest and get prepared for the next game at home and really look forward to it and embrace it."