Sorry Sunderland sinking fast

RELEGATION battles are full of hoary old cliches, but the one that states that there is always a team that makes a late, kamikaze plummet into danger is currently causing sleepless nights by the thousands in Sunderland.

The Wearsiders are locked in the sort of calamitous tail-spin which can only have a messy ending, this latest defeat stretching their winless run to six matches. They are just one place above the relegation zone and find themselves in the awkward position of feeling grateful for the failings of their much-loathed local rivals Newcastle, who currently wallow third from bottom.

Yet Sunderland could soon find themselves replacing them. Their next opponents are Manchester United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.