Sunderland boss Roy Keane takes comfort in the face that so many teams are involved in the Premiership relegation dogfight, whilst insisting that no team is too big to take the plunge…
Derby conceded defeat in the Premier League relegation battle weeks ago, whilst it would also appear to be the beginning of the end for beleaguered Fulham.
However, just five points separate the next seven endangered teams – a fact not lost on Sunderland’s rookie boss Roy Keane.
“There is a major battle going on in the bottom half of the table, seven, eight or nine teams involved so it is very interesting,” Keane told Sky Sports News.
Keane’s Black Cats sit in the middle of that group, two points from the drop-zone and two points from 12th placed Middlesbrough.
There’s a few clubs in the pack – Bolton, Wigan and Boro – who are now part of the Premiership furniture and Keane believes that no club is too big to go down, possibly nodding in the direction fallen superpower and Sunderland’s main rivals Newcastle.
He recalled Brian Clough’s NottinghamForest side with whom he was relegated with in his early playing days.
“Nonsense,” said Keane, when posed the ‘too good’ question. “We got relegated with NottinghamForest when I was there, with some very good players.
“The table doesn’t lie and come the start of the season I said the best team will win the championship, and the worst three will get relegated.
“There is no getting away from it no matter what side you are or how many fans you get, you have to go and do it. It is no good talking the talk, you have to walk the walk and that is what we intend to do.”
Battle Royale
The fiery Irishman takes some solace, though, in the knowledge that almost half the Premiership are involved in the relegation battle at present. Perhaps his theory is that Sunderland will slip through the cracks or, more accurately, other teams will.
“The more teams involved the better and there will be many twists and turns, football doesn’t always go to plan,” he continued.
“Games are not won and lost on paper they are won on the pitch, people have been talking all season but it is all about,
“I can sit here all day and talk to you about what we hope to achieve and the points we might need.
“But it comes down to the players. And I have great faith in the players that we have got.
“10 games [left], six of them at home. Obviously some are really tough games. It does not get any easier, but that is the challenge we face and the challenge we look forward to.”
Sunderland will look to kick-start their resurgence when they face off-colour Everton on Sunday at the Stadium of Light. Indeed, most of their points have come at home and it’s a trend Keane will be keen to continue for the remainder of the season.
Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com
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