Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill anticipates scrap for Premier League points

Martin O'Neill admits Sunderland are among a group of clubs for whom much of the Premier League season will be a scrap for points.
                                           
The Ulsterman saw his side win for just the second time in 19 attempts as they saw off 10-man Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage on Sunday to ease their fears of being dragged into the relegation zone. They entertain high-flying West Brom on Saturday hoping they have emerged from their early-season lethargy and can now start pushing their way up the table. However, O'Neill knows they, like so many of their close rivals, cannot relax for a moment. He said:

"There are a number of teams who start the season and never contemplate anything else other than being in the big league, your Manchester Uniteds, your Chelseas, Manchester City and a few sides like that.

"There's a group of us and it's a fight, and it's a fight every single week until you have got the requisite number points on the board.

"Only then can you start looking up the table. But I think teams will always be looking over their shoulder until they get the points on the board and start winning some football matches."