It’s back for a knees- up at mine if we beat drop
Defoe plans a survival party to eclipse Vardy’s Foxes bash
IT IS all back to Jermain Defoe’s pad for a party next Sunday night if Sunderland win yet another survival battle.
Defoe was watching Leicester’s celebrations at Jamie Vardy’s house on Monday when he had the brainwave.
“Yeah, everyone back to mine for a knees- up,” he said. And, like Vardy, 33- year- old Defoe would be an appropriate host as no one will have done more to secure Sunderland’s Premier League status.
Manager Sam Allardyce says Defoe’s 14 goals are the prime reason his side go into the fi nal week of the season with their fate still in their own hands ahead of their game against Chelsea at the Stadium of Light today.
And Defoe believes that, if Sunderland do fi nish above Newcastle and Norwich to secure the sanctuary of 17th place, the joy will be as unconfi ned as Leicester’s on being crowned champions.
“There’ll be relief of course but also euphoria,” he said . “Believe me, when we stay up, the feeling will be every bit as intense as it was for the Leicester boys. People may scoff at that but in that moment, we’ll feel exactly the same as they did when Eden Hazard scored Chelsea’s equaliser against Tottenham.”
Defoe does not talk about “if” Sunderland avoid the drop. It is always “when”. He said: “Not at any stage have I thought we’d go down. For weeks now I’ve had this picture in my head of me scoring the winner at Watford next week. Don’t ask me to describe the goal. just see the ball hitting the back of the net and me celebrating.”
Fo ur t e e n months ago, the muchtravelled Defoe cemented his re l a t i o n s h i p with the Black Cats fans when he scored a stunning winner against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light and, as he walked off at half- time, he was caught on camera struggling to hold back the tears.
He described that occasion as “an out- of- body experience” – so imagine the effect a survivalclinching goal will have on him.
“Phew! Let’s just say it would beat everything,” he said. “That Newcastle goal was huge because it sealed my affi nity with these supporters. “This club has got under my skin thanks to them. I just felt appreciated from day one but, let’s face it, you can say how much you love a club but it’s just words. Plenty of players have said that and then moved on.
“When the fans saw those tears and realised how much that goal meant to me, they thought, ‘ Wow, this guy really cares’. And I do.
“On the training pitch, even during a game, the other lads say, ‘ Let’s keep it solid and JD will score’. I like that.”
Scoring has not been a problem for Defoe this season away from home – but his last goals on Wearside were on January 2 with a double against Aston Villa. “I’ve always said it doesn’t matter where
you sc o r e as long as you do score but I g u e s s that all ch a n g e s now,” he said. “With two of our remaining three games at home, I need to score against Chelsea or Everton – preferably both.”
If Defoe does the business, Sunderland will be overwhelming favourites to beat the drop – and their main man will have to start preparing for that party. “I’m teetotal,” he said. “But even I will have a drink to celebrate staying in the Premier League.”
We spoke to Defoe as part of the Betfair partnership with Sunderland. Betfair are offering new customers 8- 1 for Defoe to score anytime against Chelsea today.
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