Mid-season slump is all too familiar to Turner

Mar 5 2010 by James Hunter, The Journal

MICHAEL Turner admits he is getting a sense of déjà vu as Sunderland’s season turns into a re-run of Hull City’s fight for Premier League survival 12 months ago.

The defender was a member of the Hull side that got off to a flying start in their first season in the top flight, but then slumped alarmingly after Christmas and ended up escaping relegation by a single point.

The £5m summer buy has seen his first season on Wearside follow a similar path, as Sunderland’s terrific start to the campaign has tailed off and a run of 14 league games without a win has seen them slide to within just three points of the drop zone.

But, with 11 games still to go, Turner insists that there is still time for Sunderland to pull clear of danger.

“It is a very similar situation,” he said. “At Hull we were just desperate to stay up. Hull started very well last season and then got stuck in a massive rut they couldn’t get out of.

“I see a similar situation here and we’re looking to get out of it, but it is difficult. Players are low on confidence at times and you need that win to get it back. No-one’s head has dropped and we’re working hard together. We must stay 100% behind each other.” Hull endured an 11-game winless streak last season which lasted from December until March – marginally shorter than Sunderland’s current run, which began in November.

The Tigers finally ended that sequence with a 1-0 win at Fulham, and that turned out to be their only victory between Christmas and the end of the season.

Turner said: “There was no one turning point for Hull last season. We beat Fulham away which was a massive three points away but we didn’t build on it. I can’t recall another win from then until the end of the season.

“But even if you do get a win, what I’ve learnt is that you still have to dig in and work hard until the end.”