Sunderland boss pays gushing tribute to super Tom Cairney after Fulham defeat

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Tony Mowbray paid tribute to a sublime Tom Cairney display after Premier League high-flyers Fulham fought off a Sunderland charge in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at the Stadium of Light, speaking to the Northern Echo. 

He doesn’t start too often these days. But, when he does, Cairney always makes sure to put on a show.

And, considering that Fulham’s number ten has made a habit of bending Championship opposition to his will, it was perhaps no surprise to see Cairney orchestrate proceedings from the centre of the park in midweek. Marco Silva’s thrilling rock opera reaching another crescendo on the banks of the Wear. 

“Fulham are a wonderful team to watch,” Mowbray said at full-time. “I love the way they play and how brave they are. Tom Cairney can’t get in their Premier League starting team, yet what a footballer.” 

Fulham beat Sunderland in FA Cup 4th round replay

With Silva putting out a mix of regulars and second-string players in the North East, Harry Wilson and Layvin Kurzawa seized an opportunity to make their mark. Both scored either side of Andreas Pereira’s tap-in. 

Sunderland ensured that Fulham were in for a nervy finale, however; sumptuous finishes from young pair Jack Clarke and Jewison Bennette in the final 15 minutes making things interesting. 

And Mowbray was pleased to see another of his fresh-faced prospects – 21-year-old Dan Neil – hold his own against one of the finest footballers to grace the Championship stage over the last decade or so. 

“It was a great game for Dan Neil,” Mowbray says of his South Shields-born playmaker.

“He’s playing someone (Cairney) with power, quality, bravery and a great left foot – what a footballer. What a challenge for a 20-year-old kid who’s got to test himself. I think Dan is going to have a lot of years in the Premier League, hopefully with Sunderland.”

Fulham will now face a currently-managerless Leeds United in the fifth round on February 28^th.  

Leeds are likely to have a new head coach in place by then. But it will not be Carlos Corberan; the club’s former U23 boss signing a new deal at West Brom.