TONY MOWBRAY is expecting two tough matches when Sunderland go head to head with Luton Town in the play-off semi-finals – but the Black Cats boss is hoping his side’s attacking match-winners will make the difference, as they did at Preston on Sunday.

With their 3-0 win at Deepdale having secured a play-off spot, Sunderland will host Luton at the Stadium of Light on Saturday tea-time before heading to Kenilworth Road for the second leg a week on Tuesday.

Sunderland’s two league games against Luton this season both ended in a 1-1 draw, and Mowbray is expecting two more tight encounters in the next nine days.

However, after Amad Diallo, Alex Pritchard and Jack Clarke all found the net against Preston, he is hoping his side’s attacking talents will make the difference once again.

Mowbray said: “It's a tough, tough, game for us. We only played them six weeks ago at home. It finished 1-1 and we got a late penalty to equalise.

“Once they get in front, they are hard to break down. They are dogged, determined, they run and fight to win everything, they bring physicality.

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“It's a tough game and I think over the two legs it will be tight. We will have to have moments of magic from Amad and Roberts and Clarke, like we did (against Preston), if we are going to score goals against them because they are tough to break down.”

Both Sunderland and Luton were involved in the play-offs last season, albeit in different divisions. Sunderland’s players celebrated success at Wembley as they won promotion from League One while Luton fell at the semi-final stage of the Championship play-offs as they suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Huddersfield Town.

Mowbray said: “The core of this group has been there (the play-offs) last year so they know how it works. But it's an intriguing game, isn't it? Luton Town against Sunderland.

“With total respect to them, they have been amazing this year - as they were last year. It’s not a fluke that they are in the play-offs because they were there last year as well.”