Quinn warns Black Cats must improve

Apr 28 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

The defeat leaves Sbragia’s side with just one win in nine games – a run that has seen the Black Cats tumble from a safe mid-table spot into relegation contention.

It has also prompted fresh speculation about the future of manager Sbragia, who admitted last week that keeping the club in the top flight might not be enough to keep him in the job. The manager himself is understood to be considering his summer options.

But Quinn has once again given Sbragia his backing – claiming Sunderland have enough to keep themselves in the top flight if they up their commitment levels.

“Ricky’s doing a fine job. To get them playing as well as they did against Manchester United the other week was excellent,” he said.

“I genuinely believe with what we’ve got if we put in the effort and commitment and if the Sunderland fans are behind us, Ricky and the players will be fine.”

Quinn is looking for a repeat of last year’s heroics, when a Michael Chopra goal at Aston Villa proved the difference. He wants this year’s crop of players to step up and earn themselves a similar place in history.

“We did it last year. We got a great result, Villa away,” he said.

“Chopra scored a goal for us and it made all the difference. We just need something like that this weekend. We’re also looking at other results, like we were last year too.

“The Premier League is a tough place and it’s all about standing up to be counted now. We’ve some excellent players and, if they all gel and put in the work-rate and commitment, we’ll get the three points at the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Quinn has wished Roy Keane well at Ipswich Town – despite the bad blood that appears to have developed between the club and its former boss.

“I wish him well, that’s what I want to do. I can assure you I have 101 things to do today with our football club, so it’s going to be a tough few weeks for us,” he said.

“The reality is that we’ve had to move on (from Keane) and we have done. Maybe not as successfully as we would have liked to as yet, but we’ve got to get over that line.”