DICK ADVOCAAT sensed Sunderland’s players were ready to deliver three crucial points in the relegation run-in and has now challenged his team to do it all over again to keep Premier League football at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats remain a point adrift of safety but a much-needed 2-1 victory over Southampton has tightened things at the bottom, whereby only two points stands between them and 14th-placed Aston Villa. Leicester, Hull City and Newcastle are very much in the thick of things.

Advocaat was heartened by the manner of Sunderland’s display against European chasing Southampton, even though he was filled with confidence before a ball had even been kicked after hearing his players’ preparations.

The experienced Dutchman said: “It started in the dressing room before the game, the commitment. I could see the way the players were sitting and talking to each other that they were really up for it.

“They were saying ‘we don’t want to go down and if we don’t want to go down then we have to do it today’ and they were totally right. At half-time they were quiet because they were listening to me! But that’s what they were like before the game. It was good to hear.”

Such togetherness before the first whistle had even blown was a boost to Advocaat knowing how Sunderland had collapsed in previous home games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

He said: “In principle, they have to do it. As a manager, you can give them a little bit, in tactics, but they have to do it. We really have to do it with the team and the spirit.”

With the exception of Newcastle, every team fighting to be out of the relegation zone at the end of the season are showing determination to deliver results. It satisfies Advocaat that Sunderland are in that frame of mind too.

Advocaat said: “At Stoke in the second half, I say that was the best football they have played against a good team, but we pressured them, we controlled it, we created some chances.

“Against Southampton, it was difficult because the pressure was on both sides - we had to win to stay up and they had to win to keep playing for European football, so it was a great game to watch, excitement for everybody. I was very happy after 94 minutes when the game was over.”

Sunderland claimed a 21st minute lead when Jordi Gomez slotted in the first of two penalties after Jose Fonte had fouled Danny Graham in the box. Less than 60 seconds later, though, Sadio Mane equalised after a mix-up between Costel Pantilimon and Sebastien Coates.

Given Sunderland’s plight, fans must have feared the worst after that but then the home side regrouped and Gomez hit his second spot-kick nine minutes after half-time when Jermain Defoe was brought down by James Ward-Prowse.

Advocaat, whose side now must try to win back-to-back league games for the first time this season when they head to Everton, said: “It is sometimes easier to play against a team like Southampton than against a team like Crystal Palace because Palace play long balls from the back and run a lot.

“A bad ball becomes a good ball because they are running like crazy and that’s the way they scored the goals. I was not thinking about us caving in at all.

“We had to do it. Once we knew the results of the other teams, if we had lost it would have been very difficult. We are still involved and it’s all up to ourselves to do what we have to do. Now we have to start thinking about our next game, Everton away. We knew the importance of the game and they showed that.”