TONY Mowbray says Sunderland are continuing their efforts to bolster their forward line after the Black Cats' attacking shortcomings were laid bare in the dramatic home defeat to Ipswich Town.

Mowbray was encouraged by a lot of what he saw from his side in the 2-1 loss to the Tractor Boys, but Sunderland again lacked cutting edge, highlighting the need to strengthen up-front between now and the end of the summer transfer window.

Sunderland have tabled bids for overseas strikers, with Mowbray hoping for a breakthrough "in the next week or two".

Hemir led the line for the Wearsiders on Sunday but Mowbray has stressed the need to bring in support for the teenager, who is the club's only fit striker, with Ross Stewart not expected to be ready to return until the end of September.

"You have to put the ball in the net when the chances come and I don't want to keep banging the drum but we need more options and the club are trying really hard to do that," said Mowbray.

"I think the club are trying really hard. We are putting bids in. To find strikers worldwide is really difficult, as huge clubs in the Premier League are finding. Hopefully there will be some more attacking options in the squad in the next week or two, then they'll have to settle in."

Sunderland started and finished well against Ipswich but paid the price for what happened in between, with Nathan Broadhead scoring the opener for the Tractor Boys in first half stoppage time before teeing up George Hirst for the second early in the second period.

Dan Neil halved the deficit five minutes from time, but Sunderland couldn't force a leveller, despite 13 minutes of added time being played.

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While Mowbray was disappointed with the defeat, he was encouraged by the display on the whole.

He said: "I think we'll get stronger. In six or seven weeks, hopefully we have Ross Stewart down the middle, Bradley Dack might be playing off him. There's enough there to say well be fine.

"Ipswich are a good team and confident. The first 15 minutes it was all one way traffic but we couldn't put the ball in the net.

"We're disappointed of course. We have to try and be stronger at home this year, as we've talked about. We just fell a bit short at the end."