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Tony Mowbray says Patrick Roberts felt his bizarre booking for diving in the FA Cup win at Shrewsbury was a ‘stain on his character.’

Roberts appeared to have won a first-half penalty for Sunderland after skipping past a Shrewsbury defender in the penalty box.

He was clearly tripped, but not only did the referee fail to give it, but he also brandished a yellow card to Roberts alleging he had dived.

Roberts was visibly livid on the pitch and the Sunderland bench reacted angrily too, and Mowbray has revealed the 25-year-old is still very unhappy about the decision.

"Patrick Roberts is really upset about it because he feels it's a stain on his character," Mowbray said.

"I've seen a still image and he's been cleaned out, it's right on the shin. It's frustrating, I know I sometimes moan about officials because I expect higher standards than we get some weeks.

“That was a disappointing decision but we have to live with those decisions.”

Sunderland showed their character at New Meadow, with them coming back from what looked like a late Shrewsbury winner to advance into the fourth round.

Matthew Pennington headed the League One side ahead with just ten minutes remaining, but injury-time goals from Ross Stewart and Luke O’Nien saw the Black Cats complete an unlikely turnaround. 

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