Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris reveals what he thinks about Tony Mowbray after conversation ahead of West Brom clash

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Sunderland face West Brom on Saturday afternoon as Regis Le Bris heaps praise on opposite number, and former Black Cats boss, Tony Mowbray.

Sunderland face West Brom on Saturday dinner-time in what will be a fiercely contested Championship top-six clash.

Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats sit firmly in fourth position in the Championship table with their play-off fate almost a mathematical certainty this season. The Baggies however currently occupy the final play-off place with seven games to go.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	39	26	7	6	56	29	27	83
2	LeedsLeeds	39	23	12	4	78	27	51	81
3	BurnleyBurnley	39	22	15	2	53	11	42	81
4	SunderlandSunderland	39	20	12	7	56	37	19	72
5	CoventryCoventry	39	17	8	14	56	51	5	59
6	West BromWest Brom	39	13	18	8	48	35	13	57

Former Sunderland boss and fan favourite Tony Mowbray will be in the opposing dugout on Saturday and knows all too well the quality his former side possesses.

Ahead of the weekend’s crunch fixture, Le Bris has heaped praise on opposing number Mowbray. Not only for his team’s footballing prowess, but the veteran head coach’s character away from the touchline, of which the Sunderland faithful once adored dearly.

• READ MORE: Regis Le Bris hopeful over Sunderland squad boost for West Brom clash

Regis Le Bris praises ‘friendly’ ex-Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray

Sunderland fans were enamored with Mowbray’s charismatic demeanor and the free-flowing attacking football he instilled during his 65-game Wearside stint.

Ahead of the Baggies boss’ reunion with his former side on Saturday, Le Bris revealed the nature of his early conversation with predecessor Mowbray shortly after the Frenchman arrived on Wearside.

Le Bris said: “It was a friendly conversation without much advice, I was happy to meet him (Mowbray) and he’s a friendly guy, very easy to speak with so it was just a friendly conversation.”

Mowbray was gracious following his sacking by Sunderland in December of last season, which proved to be a disastrous decision by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus after Michael Beale was chosen to permanently take the reins.

Mowbray was months later by then-Championship Birmingham but was forced to take medical leave after his bowel cancer diagnosis.

The English football community, including his former Sunderland squad members, showered the larger-than-life head coach with support amidst his recovery.

In news that delighted fans across the country, Mowbray returned to the dugout in January and so far his side of won, drawn, and lost four of his 12 matches back in charge at The Hawthorns.

• READ MORE: Regis Le Bris’ demand for Sunderland fans ahead of West Brom clash

Regis Le Bris admits West Brom are ‘difficult’ to face

In the reverse fixture in November, under Carlos Corberan, the Baggies battled valiantly to a 0-0 stalemate at the Stadium of Light.

Mowbray’s free-flowing style Sunderland fans know all too well will make West Brom once a “difficult” opponent for the Black Cats this weekend.

Via SAFC.com, Le Bris added: “They are a good team. Good in possession and very well organised with good players.

“Many players here know their style of play. They like to have possession. It gives freedom to Tony’s players and that’s difficult to identify patterns.

“We’ll have to be strong out-of-possession because if we let them take confidence it will be hard. It will be part of our game to be strong.”

Mowbray is still without a certain former Sunderland striker, with Josh Maja sidelined for Saturday’s clash. Despite Maja missing the reunion with his former side, the play-off chasing Baggies still possess a real threat.

Le Bris and Mowbray have had similarly positive impacts at the Stadium of Light. As two of the best head coaches Sunderland fans have enjoyed in recent years lock horns this weekend, the Black Cats must be at their best to build on their recent 1-0 victory over Millwall with another resounding win.