Source: Telegraph
Sunderland desperate to stay up says Teemu Tainio
The former Tottenham player set the scene for an attritional contest when Sunderland face the Premier League's bottom side on Saturday and insisted his team would be equally anxious to secure victory despite moving up to 15th place thanks to a 1-0 win over Hull.[LNB]'They are desperate for the points, and so are we,' the Finnish international said.[LNB] Related ArticlesDunne to join Sunderland in summerFerdinand: Slurs inspired usTelegraph player raterPremier League Round-up: Sunderland boost survival hopes as Boro slip closer to dropSunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon aims to thwart relegationNewcastles Andy Carroll eyeing starting place in squad to face Tottenham'Our destiny is in our hands, we have to make sure we're in the Premier League next season and I know we will be.[LNB]'Last time we beat them (4-0) it meant back-to-back wins and now would be a good time to do it again 'But winning there will be easier said than done. Nothing is easy in this league. All the teams at the bottom are fighting for their survival so it will be a very hard battle.[LNB]'We are ready for the battle and will do everything we can to get all three points.[LNB]'Hull made it very difficult for us but you have to be ready for the physical battle otherwise you won't get anything in this league 'I wouldn't say beating Hull lifted the tension or that it was a relief but everyone knew we needed those three points s o the atmosphere is a lot different to how it would have been if we'd lost. It was a big win for us and we have to build on it.[LNB]The 29-year-old left White Hart Lane for the Stadium of Light last summer and it is no coincidence that his team have fared better when he has been in the thick of the action thanks to his no-nonsense combative style.[LNB]However, his influence has been limited by fitness problems which have meant that he has only managed to start 14 Premier League games this term 'Being out for so long it's been really hard, I've been in and out of the side with injury and I hadn't played for two months,' he said.[LNB]'It's really good to be back, I've played in two games and my knee feels OK and I'm getting my match fitness back, I don't feel any pain in the knee.[LNB]'At one point it didn't look as though I would play again this season but it's fine now and it's good to be back in action.[LNB]'I have been in the Premier League for four seasons now so I know what the West Brom game will have in store for us so we must prepare well. It's a simple game and we have to keep thing simple.[LNB]
