‘Unity has pulled us through’

Sam Allardyce has revealed how his management skills and team unity inspired Sunderland to secure their Premier League survival.

The Black Cats avoided the drop on Wednesday night on the back of two stunning displays with home victories over Chelsea and Everton.

It was an incredible turnaround for a team that looked doomed at the end of last year.

Allardyce, who admitted he was still nursing a hangover, said: “December was dark from a weather point of view and dark at the club. We lost five in a row but there was a window of opportunity.

“That window was January and the new lads have done so well to settle at the club. Since then it’s been much brighter.

“It’s been a long haul but finally we have got to where I’ve said we needed to be, and that’s with more points than games …

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