It's all about results, not performances, for Burton boss Nigel Clough ahead of Sunderland trip

Clough brings his side to the Stadium of Light tomorrow in a crucial battle of the Championship’s bottom two.

The Staffordshire outfit – fresh from a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Derby – are five points from safety, with just three games to play, while bottom club Sunderland are a point worse off.

Asked about the importance of the next three matches, Clough told burtonalbionfc.co.uk: “We know we are going to have to win at least two of them and I don’t think we can afford a defeat in the last three games.

“Even a point would be important as, with our goal difference being so poor, it would mean that someone might need more than just a draw and that would put a bit of pressure on the others.

“We need results now. It doesn’t matter about performances any longer, just about getting results.

“We do feel that playing the way we have done in recent weeks is the best chance of getting results.

“At this stage, we just want to get the result anyhow.

“It is very tight and I hope our result against Derby makes the other teams a bit more nervous. We are also at the stage where we need favours from other teams as well.

“I wish we had six or seven games to go – as that would put us in a better position.

“The win (against Derby) has given us a bit of renewed belief, but we know we still have to win games at a level we haven’t done in the previous 43 games – but it is possible.”