O'Shea urges Sunderland belief

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Created on Monday, 10 December 2012 22:41

John O'Shea admits Sunderland's bottom-three clash with Reading on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light has become "a massive game".

The Black Cats, who are 2/1 to go down, dropped into the relegation zone following the weekend's home defeat to Chelsea and now face a side just a place below them in the table.

O'Shea says the team are aware of the importance of the game and they must start well if they are to get a result. Sunderland are 15/2 to win the clash 2-1, while a 2-2 draw can be backed at 14/1.

"The league doesn't end after the Reading game, fortunately, but we know it's a massive game," the defender told the BBC.

"We have to show the confidence and belief we've shown in some of our second half performances recently, in the way we've taken the games to the opposition. We can't just wait for a goal to be scored against us before we show a reaction.

"Heads could have really, really dropped [against Chelsea] but the attitude of the lads was good, and rightly so, because the supporters pay their money and the least we should be doing is working hard and showing a positive attitude to try and create goals."

Manager Martin O'Neill is likely to be without top scorer Steven Fletcher who has an ankle injury, with Connor Wickham set to continue up front.

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