Ross Stewart’s time at Sunderland was coming to an end, and Tony Mowbray was devastated to lose his standout striker.

Sunderland vs. Middlesbrough matches are often treated like a derby, even though they aren’t officially one. However, losing to them is particularly frustrating for Sunderland fans because of the desire to avoid giving Boro any bragging rights.

In the 2022-23 season, Sunderland’s first league game against Middlesbrough was disappointing, not just due to the 1-0 loss but for several reasons. The game came shortly after Tony Mowbray’s appointment, following Alex Neil’s departure. There was a positive feeling after Ross Stewart, Sunderland’s top scorer, netted twice in Mowbray’s debut the previous week. But that optimism quickly faded when Stewart got injured during the warm-up at the Riverside Stadium, forcing Mowbray to make last-minute changes.

Mowbray replaced Stewart with Patrick Roberts, which completely altered Sunderland’s tactics. The team struggled to adapt, and their performance reflected their uncertainty. While Alex Pritchard came close to scoring early on, Middlesbrough dominated most of the match. The only goal came when Riley McGree capitalized on a deflected tackle from Luke O’Nien, securing a deserved win for Boro.

Mowbray admitted the loss of Stewart right before kick-off was a significant disruption. The team had to quickly adjust their game plan, shifting from tactics designed for a powerful striker like Stewart to ones that suited Roberts, who plays a different style.

Despite the setback, Sunderland went on to have a solid season under Mowbray, making it to the playoffs. However, Stewart’s prolonged absence until December raises the question of how much further they might have gone had he not been sidelined for so long.