Power: We are up for the fight
BRAWL OR NOTHING FOR CATS
SUNDERLAND skipper Max Power has told his “tribal” players to carry on fighting for each other.
Lee Johnson’s inform side face a top-ofthe-table clash with Peterborough tomorrow after a win, and a “massive tunnel brawl”, against Oxford on Good Friday.
Power has lifted the lid on the bust-up which caused United boss Karl Robinson to claim his keeper Jack Stevens was nutted by a Sunderland backroom coach, and to demand the police were called to the Stadium of Light.
Power said: “Something was said to me at half-time and I’ve had the last laugh. I will leave it at that. I was pleased we backed each other up as a squad, both on the pitch and, not going into too much, off the pitch. It is an emotional sport, it is a tribal sport, teams backing each other.
“I have taken a fair bit of abuse from that Oxford bench in the three years I have been at this club, whether it be home or away. Go back to the game I got sent-off against them, I walked off that day and got abuse. It is swings and roundabouts.”
And Power (below) gave it back as he celebrated the third Sunderland goal in the 3-1 win, in front of the Oxford dugout. The Black Cats are on a run of nine wins in 11 games in the league, and have games in hand over Peterborough in second and table-topping Hull.
Power added: “Peterborough doesn’t need hyping. It is an exciting time of the season with a lot riding on it. We are trying to break into the top two. We have to keep churning out the wins, moving to Peterborough.
“I don’t need to heighten that game, we all know the importance of it. The fans should get excited because we are at the right end of the table.
“We are on a great run, playing good football. We will stay level-headed, but it’s human nature to get excited.
“I genuinely don’t think it is a title decider. There’s still 27 points to play for and we have a game in hand. But if we win it gives us a nudge up.
“We can’t have 15 minutes off in the game. Peterborough have good players.”