would you take a draw now against Soton!!!!

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PAOLO DI CANIO wants to instill a winning mentality on Wearside after being taken aback by the reaction to Wigan’s survival setback.

The Sunderland head coach is eager to develop the Black Cats into a side that regularly finishes in the top half of the Premier League and can eventually challenge for a European spot.

But top-flight survival is Di Canio’s immediate priority and Sunderland received a major boost in that objective on Tuesday night when Wigan lost 3-2 to Swansea, leaving the Black Cats just one win away from guaranteeing their Premier League status.

Yet Di Canio has been stunned by the relief and even euphoria around the club which has greeted Wigan’s defeat, and believes Sunderland should instead be focusing on securing their own destiny – something they can achieve when Southampton visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

“We have to change the mentality – to concentrate on what we are doing, not worry about what other teams are doing,” said Di Canio.

“We can’t think ‘thank you, Swansea, Wigan lost so now maybe we are going to stay up’.

“We can’t think like that.

“We don’t want to be going into the last game of the season hoping that Wigan or someone loses, we want to win our own game and then we don’t have to care about how anybody else does.

“We have to focus on winning our own games, and be happy that we have prepared properly and done that.

“On Sunday, we want to beat Southampton. It is in our hands. If we win, our goal difference means we are effectively safe.

“If we lose, everybody will be looking at Wigan v Aston Villa on the last day.

“If we draw, maybe we stay up.

“But what mentality is this?

“We can’t be relying on other results. That’s very negative.

“We have to get the points we need to get ourselves safe, not hope that others do it for us.”

Di Canio believes the mindset is prevalent throughout the whole club, not just the players.

But the Italian is eager for Sunderland to be fretting next season over whether they will finish in the top 10, not whether they will be relegated.

“Some people have a negative mentality, always worried – not just the technical staff or the players, but also from the other people around us,” he added.

“If we don’t change the attitude, we will never change the mentality at this club.

“In the future, I want to make sure that we have a different approach in these kind of situations.

“Because this club has the potential to be a top 10 club every season.

“With eight, nine, 10 games to go, we should be looking to win four or five to push on and finish in the top seven – or maybe the Europa League one day.

“West Brom have done it this season.

“We can do it too.

“But we have to change the mentality.”

yet more class from di canio
 
Danny Fox and Gaston Ramirez will both miss Southampton's trip to Sunderland on Sunday because of suspension.

i had forgotten about this ^
 
Danny Fox and Gaston Ramirez will both miss Southampton's trip to Sunderland on Sunday because of suspension.

i had forgotten about this ^

Neither of those are big losses to be honest. 100% of Saints fans will be glad Fox is out. Ramirez less so, but he's been very inconsistent and is realistically a player for our future.
 
Neither of those are big losses to be honest. 100% of Saints fans will be glad Fox is out. Ramirez less so, but he's been very inconsistent and is realistically a player for our future.

from @physioroom PhysioRoom.com Ltd twitter
#SaintsFC will assess the fitness of #Schneiderlin & #Yoshida ahead of the game against #SAFC
 
If Schneiderlin is out that would be a big loss, he's been exceptional for us in the middle of the park this season, him and Cork have worked seamlessly throughout the campaign, but Davis has really picked it up in recent weeks and has a great engine. Not so much of a loss if Yoshida is out, Fonte did well when he came in and Pochettino prefers a left sided and right sided CB pairing (Fonte/Yoshida and Hooiveld).
 
If Schneiderlin is out that would be a big loss, he's been exceptional for us in the middle of the park this season, him and Cork have worked seamlessly throughout the campaign, but Davis has really picked it up in recent weeks and has a great engine. Not so much of a loss if Yoshida is out, Fonte did well when he came in and Pochettino prefers a left sided and right sided CB pairing (Fonte/Yoshida and Hooiveld).
 
Those two however would be a problem....

Such good news u said it thrice

If Schneiderlin is out that would be a big loss, he's been exceptional for us in the middle of the park this season, him and Cork have worked seamlessly throughout the campaign, but Davis has really picked it up in recent weeks and has a great engine. Not so much of a loss if Yoshida is out, Fonte did well when he came in and Pochettino prefers a left sided and right sided CB pairing (Fonte/Yoshida and Hooiveld).

Sounds good
 
Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner will not play again this season because of suspension.
Stephane Sessegnon is also banned for this match, while on-loan full-back Danny Rose will play his final game for the club before returning to Tottenham.
Southampton forward Gaston Ramirez continues to serve a suspension but defender Danny Fox could return after completing his own ban.
Richard Chaplow (back) is still unavailable for Mauricio Pochettino.
Close Match preview
The short time in charge of Sunderland for Paolo Di Canio has already been a roller-coaster ride, from a dream derby win at St James' Park to conceding six at Villa Park - and he's had to fasten his seatbelt once again this week.
At half time on Monday night when his side were a goal and a man down to Stoke, he must have feared the worst. Yet the togetherness and spirit his players showed in the second half ensured his ride finished on a high.
But then, when Wigan were 2-1 up at home to Swansea 24 hours later, the stomach must have been churning again. However, I'm sure - like many of the managers still looking over their shoulders - his fist must have punched the air as Wigan missed the opportunity to really make it a bumpy journey.
He'll want a smooth ride in Sunderland's last home game but most of all will be desperate for the victory that would calm nerves and virtually assure them of survival before a trip to Tottenham on the final day.
He'll be encouraged by the character shown in the second half against Stoke and will need to see it again against Southampton - particularly as he's now without Steven Fletcher, Stephane Sessengon and Craig Gardner, who have scored 28 of Sunderland's 40 goals this season.
Swansea's win at the DW Stadium will also have brought a smile to the face of Mauricio Pochettino because a Wigan win would have increased the pressure on his team too, especially as they haven't scored in any of their last three matches. He'll set out to take something from the game at least - a draw would move them to the often magical 40-points mark. Only three teams have ever been relegated in a 38-match season with 40 or more.
Di Canio was part of one of those teams at West Ham, and he - like his opposite number - will want a quiet end to this particular journey.
Close Match facts
Head-to-head
Sunderland won at Southampton earlier in the season, a 1-0 victory on 22 December 2012 thanks to Steven Fletcher's first-half strike.
Sunderland last completed the league double over Southampton in 1999/2000 in the Premier League (2-1 away, 2-0 at home).
The Black Cats have won none of their last three home games against Southampton in the Premier League (D2 L1).
Sunderland and Southampton have met 47 times in the league. Sunderland have won 16, Southampton 21 with 10 draws.
Sunderland
The Black Cats have won just one of their last seven home league matches (D4, L2).
Since Paulo Di Canio took charge, Sunderland have taken seven points from a possible 15 (W2, D1, L2).
Danny Graham has now gone 815 minutes since his last Premier League goal.
Sunderland have had players sent off in their last two matches, having not had anyone dismissed in the previous 37 Premier League games.
Southampton
Saints have only taken two points from their past four Premier League matches, having previously won three in a row.
They have also scored just one Premier League goal in their last four games, having scored seven in their three games prior to this barren run.
The period in which Southampton concede the most goals is the last five minutes of a match. They have shipped 11 at this time over the course of this season (all competitions).
 
if i remember correctly southhampton in the late seventies or early eighties had nine england captains on the pitch at one point in the same game , quiz ,,quiz ,,quiz
 
if i remember correctly southhampton in the late seventies or early eighties had nine england captains on the pitch at one point in the same game , quiz ,,quiz ,,quiz

Might be right there Stu, the Mc our enemy period for Southampton, I remember Alan Ball being there and a few others. It was the dads army of the old division one but they did well, I tell ya and didn't panic and weren't doomed and had a very catchy song that somewhat slips my mind..
 
if i remember correctly southhampton in the late seventies or early eighties had nine england captains on the pitch at one point in the same game , quiz ,,quiz ,,quiz

Six England captains played for Southampton FC in 1982. Alan Ball, Mick Channon, Kevin Keegan, Mick Mills, Peter Shilton and Dave Watson. Think we only ever had 5 on the pitch at the same time. Keegan left before Shilts arrived.

 
Might be right there Stu, the Mc our enemy period for Southampton, I remember Alan Ball being there and a few others. It was the dads army of the old division one but they did well, I tell ya and didn't panic and weren't doomed and had a very catchy song that somewhat slips my mind..

I don't know who do you think you are kidding Mr Vinegar!