Tony Pulis: 'Sunderland game will be battle'

Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis has admitted that his side must scrap for everything they can get in the vital relegation clash away to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

Pulis said that Gus Poyet will have his side up for the battle, which means that his players must be prepared to fight for each other on the day.

"I'm surprised to see Sunderland where they are," Pulis told Sky Sports News. "I thought they would be higher up. You look at the squad, they have some very good players.

"Poyet is a good manager. He did a very good job at Brighton and he's gone on to take Sunderland to a League Cup final and came very close to going to an FA Cup semi-final. I'm sure they will be up for this game. We have to go there and stand up and fight our corner."

Palace are 16th, while Sunderland are 19th in the league table.