This late in the season and with these two teams sitting relatively close to one another in the Premier League standings, we get a rare gift – a so-called “relegation six-pointer” where two teams battling to save themselves from the drop go head-to-head in a desperate struggle for survival.
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“So a win would be huge because Sunderland would probably find it very hard to recover from that big a gap between the teams”. “Sunderland have got to win that game in hand to make it count”.
Neil also believes Norwich will handle the pressure better than Sam Allardyce’s side, simply because he claims they are more used to it. Before going behind they had competed strongly, albeit a little erratic in possession and wayward in front of goal, while the key moment came when Jack Rodwell fired over when it seemed easier to score. With the season not too far away from coming to an end, the need for victory here is essential.
“Everybody was happy and I think they are now thinking that we can do it and they believe”, said the Spaniard, who picked up his first win since taking over as manager on 11 March.
Allardyce’s teams are usually renowned for a strong defence, but Sunderland have kept fewer clean sheets than anyone else in the Premier League this season having prevented the opposition from scoring on just four occasions; the back four will need to improve quickly if the club are to preserve their top-flight status.
Last time the two sides played was back in August on Match day 2, when goals from Nathan Redmond, Steven Whittaker and Russell Martin gave the Canaries a 3-1 win, sullied only by a consolation goal for Duncan Watmore. “Now we have a long week to work for the game against Arsenal”.
“It would hurt this club immensely if they got relegated”.
And on Borini and Defoe, Crooks continued: “I love striking partnerships and I know Big Sam tends to be more cautious away from home, but Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe’s performance at Carrow Road may be the start of a lovely friendship”.
“And the feeling that you get when you stay up – like we did last season – is unbelievable”.
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, this season’s top two goalscorer with 21 goals in 33 games, scored a double at the 66th and 90th+5 minutes to lead the Foxes in the match and hand the Black Cats their sixth consecutive winless effort.
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No doubt the pubs in the city centre will be extra full, extra early, with the game at Carrow Road seemingly pivotal to any hope Newcastle fans have of staying up.
