The clear Sunderland message Tony Mowbray had after a crucial win - and how Ellis Simms showed the way

Winning Saturday's only second-tier fixture took the Black Cats to within one point of the top six and seven clear of the bottom four. Significantly, it also marked the first time this side has secured back-to-back wins this season.

Mowbray's hope in the second half of the season is that fewer injuries means a better balance and more consistency in selection, which should in turn lead to more consistency of performance.