Sbragia: Sunderland will not hit panic button

May 16 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

RICKY Sbragia says Sunderland won’t be hitting the panic button if results cast them into the bottom three this weekend.

Victories for Newcastle over Fulham and Hull at Bolton would dump Sunderland into the relegation zone and potentially force wholesale changes of their attitude and approach at Portsmouth on Monday.

In addition, an unlikely victory for West Brom at home to Liverpool would give the Baggies hope of overhauling Sunderland on the last day of the season, when the Black Cats host Chelsea.

But, while Sunderland supporters are gearing up for a tense afternoon checking on results at St James’s Park and the Reebok Stadium, Sbragia believes that his team cannot allow themselves to be swayed by what happens elsewhere.

He argues that whatever happens over 90 minutes today, Sunderland still control their own destiny – and they cannot allow nerves to consume them if they are pushed into deeper trouble by the results of their fellow strugglers.

Although careful not to exaggerate the effect of earning just a single point last weekend, the encouraging performance at Bolton has prompted a mini-wave of optimism at the training ground this week.

Sbragia admits that fear and uncertainty was beginning to undermine the players’ efforts after the dismal performances against West Brom and Everton, but believes that should have been banished by the improvements registered at Bolton.

And, he insists, the fear will not return – even if the Black Cats take the field at Fratton Park mired in the drop zone.

“Whatever happens on Monday we will know what we have to do. It’s in our hands and it’s up to us,”