McCarthy 'starting to feel the heat'
Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy admits he is feeling the pressure of being at the “wrong end of the table” but refuses to accept tomorrow’s home game with Portsmouth should already be billed as a relegation scrap.
The Black Cats have won only one of their first 10 matches on their return to the Premiership – the derby at Middlesbrough – and have taken just two points from five home matches.
But Sunderland have the chance to move clear off the relegation zone with tomorrow’s visitors to the Stadium of Light followed by fellow strugglers Aston Villa and Birmingham.
“I did not expect us to be in this position. I knew there was going to be a chance we might because that’s the nature of the league when teams go up,” said McCarthy.
“Unfortunately for us and the rest of them West Ham and Wigan have set the benchmark. They have been incredible, done very well and congratulations to them. What we have to try to do is emulate them a little bit.
“I certainly didn’t expect Everton to be bottom of the table at this stage and I didn’t think Aston Villa and Birmingham would be down there with the experience of being in the Premiership longer and the players they have.
“It’s a surprise for them to be where they are and Portsmouth will be looking around wondering why they are in the position they are with the players they have got.
“But I am not getting involved in terms of tomorrow’s game being a relegation scrap. The pair of us are looking for wins, no question, because 20 or even 30 draws is not going to keep us up.
“We’ve got to win 11 or 12 games and I am sure they will think the same. We’ve got three huge home games coming up considering the positions of the clubs and I guess we – all four of us – will take the view we could win them.
“We are all starting to feel the heat and pressure for being at the wrong end of the table. As the season goes by it becomes more important but I think the number of points to stay in the league is getting lower and lower over recent seasons.”
Sunderland’s plight is not helped by the unavailability of long-term injured George McCartney, Stephen Wright, Colin Healy, Kevin Kyle and Matt Piper while several key players are rated doubtful for the clash with Pompey.
Midfielder Christian Bassila (hamstring) is still out, central defenders Alan Stubbs (groin) and Gary Breen (rib) are expected to return to training today and are included in the squad while Julio Arca is still struggling with a toe problem.
