Moyes: We need a miracle

DAVID MOYeS admitted Sunderland need ‘something special’ to avoid the drop, but he is taking solace from previous unlikely escapes.

The Scot was frank after a disappointing stalemate with poor travellers Burnley.

‘We are getting close to needing something special,’ Moyes said. ‘It’s been done here regularly. I’m not kidding anyone, it’ll need some really big results. This was two points dropped.’

The result left Sunderland seven points from safety in front of watching chairman ellis Short, who was present for the first time since March.

They face Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United before the season ends. ‘There is a chance,’ a determined Moyes added. ‘You’d be disappointed if I said we had no chance. It’s been done. We know it will be difficult.’

Burnley, who dominated the first half before spending most of the second on the back foot, picked up just a third point on the road. But Sean Dyche’s men head into the international break eight points above the drop zone thanks to nine wins at Turf Moor.

‘everybody will be happy with that,’ said Clarets midfielder Scott Arfield. ‘Not too many teams would be in our position without having won away from home. But at the end of the season if we are still in this division it doesn’t really matter.’

SUPER STAT: A third point on the road this season takes Burnley level with Derby’s Premier League record-low away total from 2007-08.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-3): Pickford 7; Jones 5.5, O’Shea 6, Denayer 5.5, Oviedo 5; Larsson 6.5 (Khazri 78min, 6), Rodwell 6, Gibson 6 (Ndong 74, 6); Januzaj 6, Borini 6, Defoe 5.5.

Subs not used: Mannone, Djilobodji, Lescott, Manquillo, Honeyman. Booked: Gibson, Borini, Jones.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton 7; Lowton 6.5, Keane 6.5, Mee 6, Ward 6; Boyd 6 (Brady 74, 5.5), Barton 6, Hendrick 6, Arfield 6.5; Barnes 6 (Vokes 65, 6), Gray 6. Subs not used: Robinson, Flanagan, Defour, Westwood, Tarkowski. Booked: Barton.

Man of the match: Tom Heaton. Referee: Bobby Madley 7.