Source: PA
Ferdinand eyes top seven finish
Defender Anton Ferdinand has set his sights on a top-seven finish for Sunderland - as long as they can avoid another mid-season slump.
The Black Cats have put together a four-game unbeaten Barclays Premier League run since their horrific derby day capitulation at Newcastle on October 31 to establish themselves in seventh place in the table.
Victory over Stoke and draws against Tottenham on the road and Everton at the Stadium of Light have been creditable enough, but it was a stunning 3-0 victory at champions Chelsea which went much of the way to restoring the confidence which had taken such a battering at St James' Park.
Steve Bruce's men head for Wolves having already played all of last season's top 10 and lost to none of them, although equally aware that it was after a fine 1-0 home win over Arsenal on November 21 last year that they embarked upon a 14-game winless run which ultimately cost them a place in the top 10 at the end of the campaign.
Ferdinand said: "You can see in the confidence of the lads when we step out on to the pitch that we are not afraid to play against anyone. That showed against Chelsea and again against Everton.
"We can look higher than just finishing in the top 10, but we need to take each game as it comes, make sure we keep playing well and keep playing the way we have done. Hopefully we won't get a patch like we did last season. If we don't get that, then we are more than capable of finishing anywhere within the top seven."
