Tony Mowbray says Sunderland is the biggest club in the Championship - and belongs in the top half of the Premier League in terms of its support. The Black Cats were back ed by a crowd of almost 44,000 for their Boxing Day win against Blackburn Rovers at the Stadium of Light, which pushed the club's average attendance for the season to 38,269 across 12 home games so far - easily the highest in the division, with Sheffield United ranking second on 28,677.
And looking at the Premier League, Sunderland's average attendance this season would rank 11th - just behind Everton and ahead of Leeds United - but if they were competing in the top flight their gates would undoubtedly be higher. Mowbray praised the fans who roared Sunderland to an injury-time win against his former club on Boxing Day - a victory that pushed them to within a point of fifth place in the table.
"I'm from just down the road, and in my mind Sunderland is undoubtedly the biggest club in this division - it's probably in the top half of the Premier League in terms of size of club and its support base," said Teessider Mowbray. "They [the fans] showed against Blackburn the noise they can make and the support for the team.
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"There have been a few games this season where it hasn't gone our way, but they don't take it out on the team. They'd rather leave than boo or be negative towards the team, which is a credit to them.
"They were right behind the team for the full 95 minutes, and I think that's really important - particularly with young players, because I think they need to know there is support behind them.
"They kept us going and we saw the game out having gone in front. Huge credit to the crowd and to the people who came on Monday to support the team."
Sunderland's season continues tomorrow with a trip to next-to-bottom Wigan Athletic, before they go to Blackpool on New Year's Day.
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