Cool Cat Kenwyne cools drop fears

KENWYNE JONES believes Sunderland are not yet involved in a relegation fight.

The 24-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international helped to lift the Black Cats out of the Premier League’s bottom three, albeit briefly, last weekend with a double in the 4-0 rout of West Brom.

Victory over the Baggies, and perhaps more importantly, the manner in which it was achieved, sent spirits soaring on Wearside as the post-Roy Keane era took a further turn for the better.

However, Jones and his team-mates head for surprise package Hull tomorrow knowing they need to build upon that foundation if they are to drag themselves clear of the developing scrap at the foot of the table.

While West Brom and Blackburn, who on Wednesday appointed Sam Allardyce as manager, are in danger of being cut adrift, just five points separate Sunderland in 18th place from Portsmouth in eighth, and Jones knows just how important a consistent run of results could be.

He said: “The thing is, from eighth place to last place in the league, it is so tight, so I don’t think any teams in those positions will be thinking it is going to be a relegation battle.”

“You have a couple of wins and you are right up the table; you have a couple of losses, and you are back down.” “One win gets you so far. We are not really going to worry about relegation until it has separated, and at the moment, it has not.”

Keane’s resignation came after a 4-1 home drubbing by Bolton — their fourth on the trot at the Stadium of Light — extended their depressing run to six defeats in seven games.

Caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia came close to addressing that situation in the most unlikely of surroundings when he took his side to Manchester United in his first game and left with only Nemanja Vidic’s late strike denying them a famous point.

He did enough in his first week at the helm to persuade chairman Niall Quinn that he had to be considered as he searched for Keane’s successor, and events since have simply enhanced his reputation within both the boardroom and the dressing room.

Whether that could eventually lead to his permanent appointment remains to be seen — Ladbrokes are quoting him as a 9/4 favourite — but there is growing support among the players for his candidacy.

Jones said: “We have been working with Ricky. He has our respect and we have his.

“The only thing you could do was be happy for him if he was made permanent manager.

“All we have to do right now is just work together and work for the team, work for the club and see how far that gets us.”