Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray makes striker admission in verdict on what went wrong in Coventry City defeat

Sunderland almost staged a grandstand finish when Amad reduced the two-goal deficit in stoppage time, but in the end a performance in which they dominated possession yielded no result.

The Sunderland head coach said that he felt the impressive Viktor Gyokeres was ultimately the difference between the two sides as he added to his already impressive goal tally for the season.

"There were lots of positives in the performance but you've got to put the ball in the net," Mowbray said.

"We probably weren't positive enough around the opposition box, and we came up against a team who play on the transition and have one of the best strikers in the league - you can feel his threat.

"There's no pressure on us [this season] and we're happy with the level that we're performing it, but the areas we have to grow... it's men in the box. We have a centre forward but he's a young boy who has never played consistently - it's the first time he's ever been asked to start matches.

"I feel a little bit as if we go into the games without the tools we need. We have to try and find a way, get men in the box and find a way to score. There was plenty of control in the game and a bit like Tuesday, we've found a way to lose the game.

"We've talked about our midfielders shooting etc, but we also miss a physical presence in the middle of the goal where people are confident to put it in the box. It's something we have to keep growing and developing.

"There's plenty of positives.. I don't sit here thinking, 'where are we going with this team? We're struggling'. We've got an identity but the transfer window wasn't the one we wanted in the end, with the injury to Ross Stewart so late skewering that.

"I've just said to the players there, let's keep believing, keep moving the ball around that pitch and we will become the team we want to be at some stage.

"I just feel as if we're a couple of strikers away from being a really good team.

"I think someone watching us would think that we're an alright team... I think if you put Gyokeres in our team I think we win the game, and it's not knocking Joffy who is a boy. It's the power and size of Viktor, Ross Stewart... but that's OK, we keep going on our journey."

The win for Coventry City moves them to within one point of Sunderland in the table, as a fiercely competitive battle for the top six continues.

The Black Cats remained within one point of the top six at full time, though that was certain to change after the 3pm fixtures. Mowbray's side now face Alex Neil's Stoke City in their next game at the Stadium of Light next weekend.