Sam Allardyce confident Sunderland will stay up
Thursday 11 February 2016 17:07, UK
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is convinced his side can retain their Premier League status but admits they will have to battle hard to do so.
The Black Cats are 19th in the table, four points adrift of safety, ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime.
Allardyce's side have not tasted victory since they beat fellow strugglers Swansea on January 13 but they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield in their last game to earn a confidence-boosting point.
"I think we can avoid the drop, but we are going to have to fight to the end now, based on the amount of points we need to catch up, and the games we have left," said Allardyce.
"It's hard to say how many points will get you there but we could say probably 40, this time round, will be safe. It's been a long time since anyone got relegated with 40 points, but 38 might be enough.
"If we can put up the same show we put up against Manchester City [a spirited 1-0 defeat], we're going to give them a really good game, but we've got to get the result along with it.
"It's the most important thing now, not how we get it.
"Providing chances for Jermain Defoe is critical for us. But our first major problem is that we haven't kept a clean sheet in nine matches.
"We need to start putting a zero against us in games and if we start doing that we'll win more matches. If we win more matches, we'll get out of trouble."
Allardyce brought in four new players during the transfer window in an attempt to strengthen his squad.
Former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper, defenders Jan Kirchhoff and Lamine Kone, as well as striker Wahbi Khazri, arrived at the Stadium of Light during January and Allardyce feels they have settled in well.
"All the new signings have made a good contribution, and they've lifted the other lads here by showing the quality they have," he added.
"It's a great relief because you put your neck on the line at this stage of the season.
"They've settled very well, and the squad is very good in terms of its unity and togetherness. They all seem to get on well together and they've accepted the new players in.
It's hard to say how many points will get you there but we could say probably 40, this time round, will be safe.
"They all look like they've been together longer than they have."
