Sunderland must match clean sheet target, says Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce says Sunderland will avoid relegation if they match last season’s tally of 13 Premier League clean sheets.

The Black Cats currently sit in 18th place in the Premier League table having conceded 26 goals in 13 matches this season. 

Allardyce was appointed as Dick Advocaat's successor in October with Sunderland bottom of the table and without a victory in their opening eight matches. 

Despite having won two of his five matches in charge so far, the Sunderland manager has been left in no doubt that defensive stability remains his top priority. 

"We have to stop the goals going in," Allardyce said. 

"The defence was what kept Sunderland in the Premier League last year because the two leading scorers were Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher with five each.

"If we get 13 clean sheets this year we'll stay up. The most important thing is if we can continue to be very difficult to beat, to score against. That is the starting point."

Sunderland kept their second clean sheet of the campaign on Monday night when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a late Jermain Defoe strike.  

And Allardyce, who deployed a 5-3-2 formation at Selhurst Park, says he was encouraged by his side's defensive display against the Eagles. 

"The best thing for me was how few mistakes we made. We cut out those sort of errors we have been making on a regular basis that have cost us so many goals," he added.

"It is a big bonus for us, securing our first win away from home, and the way we achieved it shows the lads have got plenty of fight in their bellies.

"I think we are going to need a lot of fight and grit and determination to get out of the position we are in."

Allardyce also confirmed Defoe will be available for Saturday's clash with Stoke City at the Stadium of Light despite being substituted in the closing stages against Palace after sustaining a knock to his ankle. 

Defoe's fellow forward Fabio Borini is also available for the visit of the Potters.