Sam Allardyce’s side would have been on the brink of crashing into the Championship if they had lost at Carrow Road, but Borini’s first half penalty and strikes from Defoe and Duncan Watmore after the interval significantly improved their hopes of staying up. ― Reuters picNORWICH, Apr 16 ― Sunderland grabbed a priceless lifeline in the fight for Premier League survival as goals from Fabio Borini and Jermain Defoe inspired a 3-0 win over relegation rivals Norwich today. “Sunderland have got to win that game in hand to make it count”, Neil added.
Advertisement
“The lads know we need to perform and that we need to stay in the League”.
With a new domestic broadcast deal representing a 70-percent increase in next season’s revenues, Borini said the players understand what is at stake for the club.
“I think it’s a huge advantage we’re playing at home, our form at home has been better than away from home, as you would expect for a team at the bottom end of the table”, said Neil.
“I think the referee let a lot go in the game, and a lot of them didn’t balance out in our favour if I’m being honest”.
Danny Drinkwater got the better of Cattermole at the Stadium of Light last week, and the Sunderland skipper played like he had a point to prove at Carrow Road.
Now Norwich boss Alex Neil has gone on to speak regarding the future of O’Neil and has gone on to state that although the 32-year old is a key member of the squad, any contractual negotiations will have to wait until the end of the season.
The Black Cats have made a habit of narrowly avoiding relegation in recent years and gave themselves every chance of repeating the trick with a 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Norwich.
The turnover in midfield was one of many in a frenetic clash that both teams appeared to be nervous in, particularly early on with both defences looking unsteady.
“But you have to bear in mind the other teams are still chasing us”, Neil said.
“Both sides will feel under huge pressure to win but Norwich’s recent good form probably means that a draw would suit them a little more than it would Sunderland”.
Advertisement
Norwich rallied after that, with Nathan Redmond giving them an extra edge in the final third, but they found Sunderland in no mood to cave in. “Great pen from Borini.” – former Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) has no doubts whether the penalty decision was the right one. Defoe has 13 league goals, whereas no one at Norwich has more than five. Now we have four big games coming up and we need to do it the hard way.
