How Poyet pulled off one of Cats’ greatest escapes
Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has opened up on the club’s incredible escape from relegation during the 2013/14 season.
The Black Cats had just 25 points with six games remaining and were seven points from safety – albeit with two games in hand after reaching the Capital One Cup final.
Remarkably, Sunderland finished 14th in the table, five points clear of the bottom three, following a draw at Manchester City, before four consecutive wins over Chelsea, Cardiff City, Manchester United and West Brom.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Poyet said: “We had six games left because of the final that we lost but the problem was the three games we had away from home.
“Manchester City away, the champions, Chelsea away, (Jose) Mourinho had never lost at home, Manchester United away, I don’t think Sunderland had won at Old Trafford for 40-plus years.
“That left people saying if you beat Cardiff, West Brom and the last one was Swansea City, maybe you can get closer but we only had 25 points with six to go.”
Before the incredible upturn, Sunderland were beaten 5-1 by Tottenham Hotspur and 1-0 by Everton, leaving even Poyet wondering if survival was possible.
The Uruguayan recalled striker Connor Wickham to his starting XI, and the forward repaid his manager by scoring five goals in three games.
“My worst moment was after Spurs, we were winning 1-0 and I think we conceded five,” said Poyet.
“It was in the press conference when I said I think we need a miracle because it was difficult to see, with the games that we had, how we were going to achieve the points that we needed.
“There were a few things that happened at the same time, my mentality, my character and how I am as a person, trying to still believe.
“Then there are things that happen in the team.
"Sometimes you don’t have to make too many decisions because the decisions make themselves.
“We had a couple of suspensions, an injury and the team was taking shape. The biggest decision I had was Connor Wickham.”
After the shock results against Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as a 4-0 win over Cardiff, Poyet says he felt the pressure when Sunderland hosted West Brom in the penultimate game of the season.
“Going to Man City away, drawing, and beating Chelsea, it brought a little bit of wow, maybe,” Poyet added.
“That game against Cardiff, the stadium was incredible and I had a strong feeling that game, we are going to win this game, I didn’t think 4-0.
“Incredibly I was not
very nervous against City, not at all against Chelsea, I was confident for this game (against Cardiff ) and the same for Man United.
“The game I was really, really nervous was the one before the last game against West Brom, that was one of my worst days on the bench.
“I think I looked at the clock 150 times, it was not moving forward. I said to Ellis Short afterwards I don’t want to talk about football, I need to get away for 10 days and disappear. It was really draining, it was tough.”