Rowell: Sunderland must show no mercy
Sunderland have emerged as an influential team in the big issues of the Barclays Premier League.
A couple of weeks ago, it looked like they had exposed weakness in Spurs' tilt at a Champions League place by inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Londoners.
Then the wheels came off a bit with our lacklustre performance at West Ham, which helped Gianfranco Zola's men in their survival bid.
Last weekend we put another nail in Burnley's Premier League coffin with a 2-1 win that should have been much, much more convincing, and this weekend we're off to another side haunted by the spectre of relegation – Hull City.
But the vital thing for Sunderland, now that they are mathematically certain of being in the top flight next season, is to keep going for the jugular as they did against Spurs and Burnley.
I think every time a player goes onto the pitch, he wants to do well for himself, his family and his club.
I don't go along with the theory that it doesn't matter to the players once they reach the situation where they can't go down and have little to fight for in terms of climbing the table.
They always want to do themselves justice when they play.
But, for me, there is plenty for Sunderland to fight for.
And it could turn out to be a big bonus to the club and the manager Steve Bruce if they can climb another two or three places before the season's finished.
I think the target most fans would have set this season would have been a mid-table finish.
Every extra place higher is worth a lot of money to the club, and the manager will surely be helped in the transfer market if the team finishes strongly and gets closer to established sides like Everton and Aston Villa – clubs fighting in the summer for similar quality players
as we will be.
The chance is there now to edge back into the top half of the table – which is quite remarkable after going three months without a win at one stage this season.
And the players need only take a look across at another packed away section at the KC Stadium on Saturday if they need convincing that there is still something meaningful to play for.
Once again, we have sold out or away allocation.
I wonder how many of the fans travelling to Hull have been to most away games this season? Quite a lot, I imagine.
Unfortunately, their loyalty has been rewarded with just one away league win in the best part of 15 months.
For the supporters and for their own sense of pride, I expect the players to go for the jugular against Hull at the weekend and help take us all buoyantly into another summer of hope.
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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