More from Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce: “The most pleasing thing of all was the clean sheet, that is our way forward with five games to go.

"I know if we can keep two or three clean sheets in those game we’ll be safe because I know we can score.

"Five games to go, the pressure is still on us, but we’ve a better chance of getting out of it. Hopefully we’ll take it. We can’t afford to fail anymore.

"As a performance, in terms of what we need at this moment, which is a result, it’s fantastic for the lads.”