TONY Mowbray wants to go to Preston on the final day of the season still in with a shout of a top six finish in the Championship.

That was Mowbray's message to his Sunderland players after the impressive comeback victory at home to Birmingham City.

The Blues opened the scoring against the run of play through George Hall but Trai Hume levelled in first half stoppage time before Amad Diallo scored a stunning second half winner.

The victory lifted the Black Cats to within a point of the top six, though that gap could widen when seventh-placed Blackburn host Hull City on Saturday night (7.45pm).

Mowbray said: "At the moment it's one point. We're competing at the right end of the league. It's exciting and I've just said to the players let's make it exciting right to the death.

"Let's go to Preston on the last day with something to play for. But we can only do that by getting results in the next three games, starting Tuesday with hopefully three points against Huddersfield."

Mowbray was delighted with the battling spirit of his players, who hung in there and managed to pick up all three points on what could have very easily turned into a frustrating afternoon.

The timing of the equaliser, deep in first half stoppage time, was crucial, said Mowbray.

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"It was an important time to score our goal," he said.

"We started really sharp, creating chances. Then with one of their first attacks, they score.

"It was important for us to score before half-time to give the dressing room confidence we could go on and win the game.

"We left the dressing room at half-time believing we were going to win the game. It's finding a way to win and when you have players like Amad Diallo in your team, doing what he did today, as he did in the reverse fixture, you always have a chance.

"Clarke has done it many times this season, Roberts has done it, Diallo has done it.

"We do have players who can unlock the best defensive units. We found a way in what was a tough, attritional game.

"They tried to frustrate us and we tried to play through them which is probably the only way we can play because we don't have a target forward.

"It does give teams a bit of sugar to get some success but we kept going and found a way. I'm pleased for the players and supporters and we're already looking forward to Tuesday night."