Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce ready to 'start praying'
Sunday 3 April 2016 14:05, UK
Sam Allardyce has joked that he may need to seek divine intervention in an attempt to reignite Sunderland's bid for Premier League survival.
Sunderland dominated for long periods in their match against West Bromwich Albion at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, but failed to convert a whole host of chances and were made to settle for a goalless draw.
Norwich's 3-2 victory over Newcastle also did little to lift the spirits of the Sunderland faithful at full-time, a result which leaves the Black Cats four points from safety with only seven matches of their season remaining.
Sunderland are without a win in five Premier League matches and, though they have drawn their last four, Allardyce is well aware that time is running out for his side with a clash against leaders Leicester next up.
"I think I need to go back to church and start praying or something like that," he said. "I'm not quite sure what I need to do because I can't ever imagine in my long career dominating a game for so long, creating so many chances and actually not winning it.
"It's a cruel blow on the basis of the position we are in and the such desperate need that we are in for points, and tomorrow when we wake up with will feel so much more dejected on the basis yes, we played outstandingly well, yes, it was the best performance I've had since I've been here, but it was only one point again and not three and Norwich get that little bit further away from us.
"Pressure ever mounts. We look very good at dealing with the pressure at the moment, so I just hope we can carry on doing that and I hope we can turn great performances into victories very shortly. I believe we can."
Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster was the star of the show on Wearside, producing five excellent saves to deny Sunderland, who had a stoppage-time Dame N'Doye strike correctly ruled out for offside.
Allardyce added: "I hope that's not going to be our big worry in the next seven games, where we continue to play like this and create that many chances and don't convert them.
"But I do feel sorry for them because it had to be four or five outstanding saves by Foster, not just one or two, it was four or five or six."
Live Ford Super Sunday
