SUNDERLAND STRUGGLE

Sunderland failed to make the most out of their matches against teams in and around them in the league after they lost 2-1 to West Ham United on Monday night. This has left the team perilously close to relegation with only six matches left in the campaign. Midfielder Adam Johnson, who has won a Premier league title with Manchester city in the past, says that it will now take a miracle to keep Sunderland in the Premier league. The club has managed to maintain its Premier league status for several years after being first promoted under Roy Keane.

After several managerial changes in the last 12 months, they are looking to pay the price for instability. Gus Poyet has managed to make the players play much better than under the previous regime, but it has certainly not translated into results. The next couple of matches will be even tougher for Sunderland since title chasing teams like Manchester city and Chelsea will be the next opponents. Johnson has been one of the few bright aspects for Sunderland this campaign.

He says that the team were believing that they would get three points from subsequent matches, but the fact is that matches running out with no points on the board for the team. Sunderland next take on Tottenham, who are in a lot of problems themselves.

“It’s another game down. We keep saying ‘This is the game, this is the game’ but time is running out now. The games are running out and we have got some tough ones coming up. We have to capitalise on the games at home, which we haven’t done all season. We have got four home games left and I think if we win all four, we have got a chance. There are still eight games and points to play for,” said Johnson.