Sunderland boss Sbragia frets over relegation

Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia admits his side will have only themselves to blame if they are relegated from the Premier League on Sunday.

Sbragia’s team go into their last match of the season at home to Chelsea just two points and two places above the relegation zone.

A defeat for the Black Cats coupled with victories for Newcastle, who play away to Aston Villa, and Hull who are at home to Manchester United, would see Sbragia and company relegated.

Sbragia, who took over when Roy Keane quit the Stadium of Light earlier this season, concedes that Sunderland can offer no excuses for their precarious position because they have been in woeful form in recent weeks.

“It’s happened over the 37 games, we have not been consistent enough,” he said on Friday.

“From our point of view, we have conceded too many and not scored enough, so it is down to consistency.

“We have had many chances to get out of the position we are in – we have not taken them and we are down to the final game.”

Sbragia’s men have won only one of their last 12 matches and the prospect of facing FA Cup finalists Chelsea has many Sunderland fans fearing the worst.

But the Sunderland manager draws inspiration from Bradford’s remarkable escape back in 2000, when David Wetherall’s goal sealed an unlikely and decisive victory over Liverpool to keep them up on the last day of the season.

“I am confident we still stay in the Premier League. I am confident but we have got to go and do it,” he said.

“I can remember Bradford playing Liverpool and nobody gave Bradford a hope in hell, and they won 1-0, so it can always happen.

“We have got to go out there and be a bit braver and take the game to them.

“Anything can happen in football, and we hope we can come out with a win.”