Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 2 Burnley 1: Brian Laws says his players aren't down and out
He was written off the day he took the Burnley job so after recording his 13th defeat in 16 games as a Barclays Premier League manager, Brian Laws accepts the whole country believes he is already heading back to the Championship.[LNB]Three games to go Liverpool and Tottenham at home and Birmingham away and Laws has vowed to 'go for it'. [LNB]'Who cares what people say?' he said. 'It's what we do that matters.'[LNB] Red and white delight: Darren Bent is mobbed after doubling Sunderland's lead[LNB] [LNB]But if the Burnley side who failed to show up for the first half at the Stadium of Light do the same in any of those three games, they are doomed. [LNB]Sunderland could have had six by the break, rather than a goal each for Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent, while Laws' men managed one, half-hearted effort off target from Tyrone Mears. [LNB]The second half, aided admittedly by Sunderland's alarming collapse, was marginally better and they were denied a penalty when Campbell's clumsy challenge on half-time substitute Steven Thompson went unpunished.[LNB]Thompson then scored the visitors' solitary goal, seizing on Alan Hutton's disappearance and Robbie Blake's first touches within a minute of the veteran's introduction. [LNB]Sadly, Thompson's only contribution in the remaining eight minutes was a caution for dissent as frustration got the better of him.[LNB] No mistake: Bent beats Brian Jensen from close range[LNB] [LNB]But at least he demonstrated the spirit and determination Burnley will need to make up the four-point gap to safety. He talks a good game, too. [LNB]Thompson said: 'It is certainly not over for us. Two wins could still keep us up although we will be trying to win all three. [LNB]'The fact is we are running out of games. We have got to turn Turf Moor into a cauldron like we did at the start of the season when we beat Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland. [LNB]'If you can beat Man U, you can beat anyone. As soon as you start to fear anybody you are finished. [LNB]'We have to believe we can pull off the great escape. If you don't you shouldn't be in the job. We are capable of doing it and we believe we can do it. Now it is about transferring those words into action on the pitch.'[LNB] No holds barred: Sunderland's David Meyler (left) vies with Wade Elliott of Burnley[LNB] [LNB]Sunderland's ninth home win of the season guaranteed a third successive season in the Barclays Premier League for Steve Bruce's team, although they were forced to sweat for the three points which keep them in touch with a lucrative top-10 finish.[LNB]Referee Howard Webb may have been erratic with his yellow cards but he deserves credit for the advantage which led to Campbell's 25th-minute opener from the impressive Hutton's cross.[LNB]MATCH FACTS SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon; Hutton, Turner, Mensah (Ferdinand 46min), Richardson; Campbell, Meyler (Zenden88), Henderson, Malbranque; Jones, Bent (Benjani 90). Subs (not used): Carson, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Da Silva. [LNB]Booked: Malbranque, Mensah, Meyler.[LNB]BURNLEY (4-1-4-1): Jensen; Mears, Cort, Duff, Fox; Alexander; Eagles, Elliott, Cork (Blake 81), Paterson (Thompson 46);Fletcher. Subs (not used): Bikey, Carlisle, Caldwell, Jordan, Weaver. [LNB]Booked: Duff, Thompson.[LNB]Referee: H Webb (South Yorkshire). [LNB]David Meyler's best pass of the match four minutes before the break found Campbell, whose cushioned header set up one of the easiest goals of the 23 that top scorer Bent has notched in the league this season.[LNB]The former Tottenham centre forward did miss two other good chances and his strike partner Kenwyne Jones, along with John Mensah and Kieran Richardson, hit the woodwork, while Brian Jensen also did his best to deny them a comfortable win.[LNB]As well as looking to post their best finish in nine years, Sunderland will have a say in the outcome of the title.[LNB]Chairman Niall Quinn may have missed his first game since taking the post thanks to volcanic dust which left him stranded in Ireland, but nothing will stop him or a full house being at the last home game of theseason, the visit of Manchester United on May 2.[LNB]Jones and Bruce are adamant the champions will have to fight to keep their title when they meet, the day before Chelsea travel to Liverpool. [LNB]Jones said: 'We are just going to go out and try to win the game. If they want to win here they will have to come and play as well as they doto turn us over. [LNB]'We could get turned over badly if we don't treat it like an important game. We just have to keep on fighting until the end of the season to see where it gets us.'[LNB]And his manager added: 'This is the most points Sunderland have picked up in 10 years, the most goals we've scored at home, surpassing even Quinn and Phillips in the years they finished seventh, so overall I'm pleased.[LNB]'We've got three games to go and we've got a chance of finishing 10th. We're two points behind, so let's give it a fling. That would thenbe very satisfactory.'[LNB][LNB] Sunderland 2 Burnley 1: Fergie's proteges steer Black Cats to safetyThe Artful Dodger! Sunderland star Kieran Richardson painting pictures on the pitchSafe Hands stays! 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