Football
9y

Gus Poyet says Sunderland can't get carried away by victory

Gus Poyet has ordered his Sunderland players not to get carried away by a much-needed victory over Burnley.

The Black Cats' 2-0 win over the Clarets on Saturday was their first in six Premier League outings and just their second on home soil in 12 attempts so far this season.

However, the Uruguayan has insisted it is only the start of what they need to do if they are to avoid being sucked into another relegation fight.

Poyet said: "We are not OK. We have won a football game, that's it. We have done nothing, so next week has to be as important as today."

Looking ahead to next week's clash at Swansea, he added: "We need to match Swansea's desire and to match the quality of Swansea's passing of the ball and to be higher on the pitch and to do the same. Then the result is a consequence.

"But it depends on what we do."

Sunderland took a 20th-minute lead when Connor Wickham headed home full-back Anthony Reveillere's cross, and they extended their advantage 11 minutes before halftime when Defoe opened his account for the club with a close-range finish to secure victory.

It eased them two places up the table into 14th, four points clear of the drop zone, and was just the result and performance for which Poyet was looking after hearing his players booed by their own fans following last Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup draw with Fulham.

He said: "The first half was decent. In the moment that we were, in the kind of atmosphere that was surrounding the team, the first half was the perfect game for us to go on; compete, aggressive, higher on the pitch, score two goals, good goals and Jermain scoring his first. It was perfect to get back to connect with the people."

Defoe's goal was his first for the club since his arrival from Toronto earlier this month, and it could hardly have been more timely.

Poyet said: "I knew he would score. He is delighted -- if you see him now smiling and happy and being on the winning side scoring a goal as a striker, it's perfect."

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