FABIO: NOW LET’S GET SAFE ON WEDNESDAY
BORINI DETERMINED TO COMPLETE SURVIVAL MISSION AHEAD OF FINAL DAY OF SEASON
Fabio Borini is desperate for Sunderland to enjoy midweek survival euphoria for the third year on the spin and avoid a final day nervewringer.
Sunderland now know that victory against Everton on Wednesday will guarantee that they are playing Premier League football next season after the Black Cats’ epic comeback against Chelsea has put them in pole position to triumph in the drop battle.
Even if Sunderland don’t beat out-of-form Everton, two draws from the final two games will be enough for Sam Allardyce’s men due to their superior goal difference.
But Sunderland want to get the job done before Sunday’sfinaldayclashatWatford and repeat the trick of the last two seasons, when the Black Cats have secured survival on the Wednesday before the season comes to a close.
Borini – who netted against West Brom in the penultimate game of 2013-14 – said: “We’ve done it in midweek in the last two years, getting safe one game early.
“Hopefully we can do that again. We need to focus, rest and look to win the game.
“It would be nice if we do it early. Maybe next year, we can do it mid-season. That would be nice!”
Sunderland head into the visit of Everton – brushed aside 3-1 by champions Leicester on Saturday – in buoyant spirits after a rousing victory over Chelsea was coupled by relegation rivals Newcastle and Norwich both failing to win.
Allardyce’s side again showed their character in recovering from a 2-1 interval deficit and clinching victory with two goals inside three second half minutes from Borini and top scorer Jermain Defoe.
“We were focused on getting back in the game at halftime because we knew we’d played well and put pressure on them,” added Borini.
“The manager just said to us to keep going at half-time.
“He said we were playing well and we conceded on our two mistakes. When you’re playing the big teams, they convert the chances they get.
“We just kept going, defended well, worked hard and fought more than them and we got the result.
“The fans helped us. They give me energy when I hear the roar. They give me that extra belief in the last few minutes when your energy goes low.”