Tony Mowbray disappointed by 'mind-boggling' refereeing in Sunderland defeat to Fulham

Tony Mowbray said he was unhappy with he referee, calling his award of just four minutes added time as ‘mind-boggling.’

Sunderland gave Premier League side Fulham a really good game at the Stadium of Light, and they looked to have set up a frantic finish when Jewison Bennette scored on the brink of injury time.

However, referee Tim Robinson inexplicably awarded just four minutes of additional time, and that left Mowbray, and most watching, absolutely perplexed.

“Even at 3-1 the fans stuck with the team and we managed to get back into it,” Mowbray said.

"How four minutes goes up is mind boggling, there were about ten substitutes, two injuries, four goals... but there we go.”

Fulham started the brighter and at times their extra quality exploited the naivety of the young Sunderland side.

Mowbray was happy to give Fulham plenty of credit for that, though.

“I really like the way Fulham play and you can feel their quality and their talent, there's no shame in losing. We've given them a good go.

“I think we kept going tonight. We started really tentatively, and I thought they controlled it from the back.

“I managed Tosin Adarabioyo at Blackburn and what a footballer he is. They deepen off, work it across and wait to find the pivot... if your press isn't quite right then they are out and into your backline. We didn't quite it right first ten minutes and that was disappointing.

“We adjusted it, got the crowd engaged, and made opportunities. I think we've given a good account of ourselves over the two legs, we just need to be a bit braver at the start and I'd say that we've conceded a couple of poor goals which isn't like us.

“We kept going and we'll take the positives hopefully into Saturday.”

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