Sunderland FC

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Tainio predicts Cats return

02 Dec 2008 - 11:32:11

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Sunderland midfielder Teemu Tainio has backed the club's league of nations to unite and lift the gloom currently surrounding the Stadium of Light.

Tainio was a second-half substitute during Saturday's 4-1 home thrashing at the hands of Bolton Wanderers which resulted in the Black Cats slipping into the relegation zone.

The long-term future of manager Roy Keane on Wearside remains unclear, but Tainio, who was brought to the north-east from Spurs in August, has backed the squad to unite in the face of adversity.

"Having a mixture of nationalities is all part of growing in the Premier League," he told the Sunderland Echo.

"I'm used to working with players from lots of different countries - it's part of modern football and I don't think it's a problem.

"I don't think you can blame our results on that. The important thing is that the squad is together and wants to work hard for each other. I don't see any problems on that side.

"All of the players get on and we need that spirit more than anything now.

"The league table does not lie, so we have work to do."