Source: Telegraph
Kieran Richardson rallies Sunderland teammates as relegation threat increases
Richardson issued the rallying call as he prepared to help his team secure their first top-flight win since last November when Fulham head to Wearside on Sunday. [LNB]Richardson returned to action following injury last weekend and despite being unable to prevent Sunderland suffering a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal that stretched their winless Premier League run to 13 matches he remains optimistic. [LNB]"The more players the manager gets back the better because we certainly need to pull some performances out of the bag now," the former Manchester United and England player. [LNB]"The injuries we've had have been unbelievable, but these are the cards we've been dealt and we have to get on with it. [LNB]"Not many teams go to Arsenal and create the chances that we did and I think we showed that we have enough quality to stay away from relegation. [LNB]"I was having my second game in two months and Anton came back so they should be positives for us because we all need to be in there fighting. [LNB]"The more we play the fitter we get and this feels like the start of the season for me. I definitely want a big finish and do my bit to get us out of trouble." [LNB]Sunderland may have lost at Premier League title chasers Arsenal but Richardson is hoping they re-produce the tenacity they showed at the Emirates when Fulham head to the Stadium of Light. [LNB]The 25-year-old added: "I thought we did well. Arsenal have quality players and flew out of the blocks. We expected that. [LNB]"We got in 1-0 at half-time and the gaffer said we just had to stay in the game; try not to concede early in the second half. [LNB]"We did that and at 1-0 we were always in with a chance. We showed good fighting qualities and that's what we'll need for the rest of the season Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has also been encouraged by the performance against Arsene Wenger's side. [LNB]"We just need one win," Gordon said. "We've potentially got four home games on the bounce and that will be a crucial time for us. Play like we did against Arsenal and show similar effort, I've no doubt we'll turn things around." [LNB]"We win, lose, draw as a squad. It's unfortunate when you lose your place, but you take it on the chin like a man. It's important we keep faith with the manager's judgement. [LNB]"The lads up front have got us out of jail a few times this season, but we can't always rely on them to do that. It's up to us in the defence to our bit too and I think by and large we have done that today. If we keep creating chances I know they will stick them away." [LNB]
