MATT Kilgallon says Sunderland's players will finish their Premier League season in style because they are fighting for their futures under Martin O'Neill.

The Black Cats became the first team to dent Manchester City’s perfect home record on Saturday with a battling 3-3 draw at the Etihad Stadium, the perfect response to the club’s FA Cup disappointment.

It was also proof that Martin O’Neill’s assurance that his team would not let the season fizzle out was not just idle words.

Kilgallon was one of the Black Cats’ best performers as he made the most of a recall at the expense of on-loan Sotorios Kyrgiakos.

After being frozen out under Steve Bruce, the former Sheffield United man is enjoying a fresh start under O’Neill – and he intends to make the most of it between now and the end of the season.

Kilgallon feels he is not alone in having a point to prove, and reckons the rest of the squad feel the same.

“We don’t want to throw this season away now,” Kilgallon said. “We were struggling at one point but in the last few months we have been outstanding.

“We now just want to finish it off in style. We want to finish in the top eight then next year people might be expecting bigger things from us.

“Everyone has to fight for their position as well, no one can afford to go through the motions.

“The manager will remember how we end this season, we have to remember that.”