O’Shea’s seeking freedom of Boro!
DEFENDER IS RELISHING RIVERSIDE DERBY CLASH
HAVING watched them on the television this week, Sunderland’s John O’Shea is expecting a tough game at Middlesbrough on Wednesday - but the centre-back is looking forward to returning to derby football.
Both North East sides are staring relegation in the face and even a win might not be enough to keep either in the Premier League.
While there is still a chance both sides will be going all out for victory - and although Boro are the only team in England not to win a league game this year - O’Shea saw enough in them against Arsenal to know they will put up a real fight.
He said: “We saw the game against Arsenal and Boro caused them problems.
“It was a decent performance and they were unable to take anything from it so, just like we will be, they will be targeting three points.
“It is away from home and it will be a real derby atmosphere - but they are the games you want to be a part of. We are all looking forward to it.”
Alvaro Negrado’s goal gave Arsenal a scare on Monday, cancelling out Alexis Sanchez’s opener, but Mesut Ozil’s 71st-minute strike secured the three points for the Gunners.
It leaves Middlesbrough six points from safety with 18 still to play for. The gap for Sunderland is nine points.
O’Shea is not hiding from the fact it is a game his team have to win.
He added: “That is definitely the case.
“It was also similar when we went down to Palace because we had to win that game too.
“We know since then there have been too many matches where we should have had better results.
“We haven’t and that means we are where we are, so we have to do something about it against Middlesbrough.”
With Bournemouth, Hull City and Swansea City as their next three games after the Riverside, there is the potential for Sunderland to gain momentum as they look to pull off the sort of unlikely escape which has become their trademark in recent seasons.
The reality, though, is this squad does not seem to have the confidence or the quality to pull off such a run and is relying on favours from others.
O’Shea said: “It will be a difficult game at Middlesbrough but we know we have to go there and win if we want to stay in the Premier League.
“We need to keep going and get back to keeping clean sheets again.”