Tony Mowbray is desperate to help Sunderland win back-to-back games in the Championship – and it will not be happening before the World Cup break.

The Black Cats missed out on another opportunity on Saturday when they followed up a midweek victory at Huddersfield by losing at home to Cardiff City.

That seemed the ideal chance to improve on a record that keeps being mentioned, regardless of how unfair it might seem given the length of time Sunderland have spent in the division.

The depressing relegation season in 2017-18 – the only other campaign Sunderland have spent in the second tier in more than 15 years – means that the Wearside outfit have not won back-to-back in the Championship since Roy Keane’s side secured promotion in May 2007.

Many hoped that wait would have ended on Saturday, only for Mark Harris’ 49th minute winner to leave Sunderland with a poor home record of winning just two of their nine games at the Stadium of Light so far this season.

They now travel to Birmingham on Friday before a break for the World Cup until Millwall head to the North-East on December 3.

Mowbray said: “What I know is that it is tough to win back-to-back games in this league unless you have a top team.

“We have a team that played in a different league last year. This club was in the Premier League for years and then League One, so that comes into it, but I know it is 2007 since this team won back-to-back in the Championship. We are striving to do that.”

He added: “Playing at home we have some bigger expectations to deal with. We are striving for consistency. There are issues with our level of consistency.

“We are having a very good 45 minutes, either at the beginning or the end. We need to strive to get those performances for the full game.”

There is an argument that Sunderland’s inconsistency is a result of relying heavily on young players. Mowbray is having none of that, accepting the job knowing the remit was to give youth a chance.

Anthony Patterson, Sunderland’s academy produced goalkeeper, is a fine example of a youngster shining. He is enjoying his first full season between the posts at Sunderland and continues to impress.

The 22-year-old was impressive again against Cardiff and couldn’t have done much to stop Harris’ winner. Earlier in the game he had made a strong penalty save from Joe Ralls to prevent Cardiff from taking the lead.

Mowbray said: “I didn’t know much about him when I came in. He is a big lad, a lovely lad, very quiet. He has good hands, fills the goal well. He is a good keeper. Lots of improvements needed but he is a good keeper

“I look at the talent, not the age, and that was the case when I came in. He hasn’t shown inconsistency at all. We are all happy with Patto. He has to just keep working hard.”

Sunderland will now be without Luke O’Nien for the trip to Birmingham on Friday after he collected the fifth yellow card of the season.

Mowbray said: “I can’t think about it. He misses the next match and it is an opportunity for someone else.”