Vito Mannone confident of Sunderland survival

Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone has insisted that the club will get enough points on the board to remain in the Premier League this season.

The Black Cats are currently just one point from safety in the table, having picked up a surprise point against title contenders Liverpool on Monday courtesy of a Jermain Defoe brace.

"It was a great point and a real battle," Mannone told the club's website. "The fans deserved a better game and we gave one; they got behind us and we stuck two penalties away through Jermain who was as cool as ever.

"We responded really well and we fought for each other which is exactly what we need to do. We can't do it against the big clubs and then not against the clubs in and round us, but if we do it, starting this weekend against Burnley, we have a chance and they beat us too easy on New Year's Eve.

"We have to keep fighting for each other because the crowd will get behind us and we'll get the results to stay up."

Sunderland take on the Clarets in the third round of the FA Cup this Saturday, before Premier League action resumes with the visit of Stoke City a week later.