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Sunderland striker Fabio Borini is hoping to secure Premier League safety against Everton

Fabio Borini (l) celebrates his goal for Sunderland against Chelsea
Image: Fabio Borini (left) wants Sunderland to secure their Premier League status before the final day

Sunderland striker Fabio Borini has confirmed the team are desperate to secure their top-flight status as soon as possible.

The Black Cats require three points from their final two fixtures to maintain their place in the Premier League and send Norwich and rivals Newcastle down to the Championship with already-relegated Aston Villa.

Victory over Everton on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1, would complete the task ahead of next Sunday's trip to Watford.

Sunderland go into the first fixture with confidence soaring following a 3-2 victory over Chelsea last Saturday, a game in which Borini netted his fifth goal of the campaign.

Sunderland striker Fabio Borini scores against Chelsea
Image: Borini scored Sunderland's second goal in their 3-2 win over Chelsea on Saturday

"We're going to try and do it over 90 minutes because it's better to do it obviously and not bring it to the end, the last breath," Borini said ahead of the clash with Everton.

"But it's half done because we need to win another game. We need to work probably harder than what we did on Saturday, the same desire of winning the game and that will hopefully give us the result."

Borini praised the Sunderland fans for their backing in recent weeks and for the way they lifted the team in the Chelsea match.

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Sam Allardyce looks ahead to Wednesday's match against Everton

And the 25-year-old revealed his efforts to secure tickets for Sunday's trip to Vicarage Road have proved fruitless as the match is already sold out.

Borini said: "I've been trying to buy tickets myself for my friends in Watford, but it was sold out so I couldn't buy any,  and that shows you how much following we have - even in a tense situation they help us a lot.

Allardyce: Extraordinary win
Allardyce: Extraordinary win

Sam Allardyce hailed an "extraordinary" comeback as Sunderland beat Chelsea 3-2

"Like Saturday, I think the first to believe we could do it was the fans, and they transmitted that to us with the singing and the cheering, and that's unbelievable at this stage of the season.

"But a sell-out crowd is always good to play in front of."

Sunderland boss Sam Allaryce revealed last week claimed he has been practising meditation to help relieve the stress of the relegation battle.

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Phil Thompson reflects on Sunderland's crucial win over Chelsea

Borini insists he has not seen evidence of that, but is happy if Allardyce has found a way to cope with the situation.

"If he says it helps him, I can't say otherwise because I don't know that side obviously. I do my own job mentally and different stuff, but if it helps him to be calm then good for him," Borini said.

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