TONY MOWBRAY will be working with his Sunderland players to try to improve their defending from set-pieces after the concession of a goal from a corner proved costly in each of the club’s last two matches.

On Saturday, Stoke defender Luke McNally was afforded a free header on the edge of the six-yard box, with his successful effort condemning Sunderland to a 2-1 defeat.

Three days later, and Leicester full-back James Justin was able to peel off Pierre Ekwah and outjump Jobe Bellingham in order to convert Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s early corner and secure his side a 1-0 success.

A lack of physicality cost Sunderland dearly last season, most notably in the second leg of their play-off semi-final with Luton Town, and while this summer’s signings have increased the average height of the Black Cats squad, Mowbray accepts there are still issues when it comes to defending set-pieces.

“It’s two games on the bounce where a free header has cost us points, and that’s frustrating for us,” admitted the Sunderland boss, whose side host Norwich City at the Stadium of Light this weekend. “We put a lot of work into defending set pieces because we’re not a huge team, and we knew there were going to be issues against Leicester.

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“We knew that they had five physically more powerful players, we only had four markers because we decided to go zonal in the six-yard box, and we’ve been done by someone running across one of the zonal players.”

Nevertheless, Mowbray was delighted with his side’s all-round display at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, with Sunderland having pushed the runaway Championship leaders all the way before succumbing to a one-goal defeat.

“Let’s keep performing at that level and the results will take care of themselves,” he said. “Let's keep working hard for each other and playing this style, which is going to get us results.

“I wouldn’t sleep at night if we came up against anyone and sat everyone behind the ball and lost 1-0. Whoever we’re playing, we’ll come and have a go.”