Tainio: Just keep believing

Defensive midfielder Teemu Tainio insists Sunderland will soon pull clear of the relegation zone. Defeat by Aston Villa in a game that Sunderland could have gone no to win were it not for some horrendous decisions by the officials on Saturday left the Black Cats just two points above the bottom three.

Sunderland's current total of 23 points puts them in 15th place in the Barclays Premier League table with the five teams below them on 21.

It promises to be one of the most nerve-racking finishing in top-flight history and Tainio, the former Tottenham man, is calling for calm.

"It is very tight - everyone can beat anyone on their day," said the Finnish International.

"We pushed Villa close on Saturday but we lost, we will analyse it and move on. It's disappointing because we seemed to be in control of the game.

"We have belief in the side and we need to keep that belief. If you start to worry then you really are in trouble.

"We have a good enough squad to stay in this league and finish in the good position, we are confident that we will start to climb the table."

Sunderland take a break from league action this Saturday when they play Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light.

Sbragia will be hoping that Tainio and fellow midfielder and club captain Dean Whitehead will show the same form as that shown against Villa, a game in which the due proved to be a formidable force to be reckoned with.

"Blackburn are a team we know well - we have played them three times already this season," said Tainio. "It will be tough but we are at home and should be favourites to go through.

"It's important we start winning our home games, regardless of who we are playing."