Cats fired up to face Gunners (From The Northern Echo)

Cats fired up to face Gunners

9:11am Saturday 10th May 2008

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AHEAD of tomorrow's Premier League finale against Arsenal, Nyron Nosworthy moved quickly to refute suggestions that Sunderland have put their feet up since guaranteeing top-flight football next season.

Sunderland's Wear-Tees derby win over Middlesbrough ensured survival last month.

However, boss Roy Keane was furious after seeing his side follow that up with last week's 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

While there was a suggestion that Sunderland weren't at the races, Nosworthy has rejected those claims.

"The only thing that sticks out is complacency, but I don't think we can really blame that," said the 27-year-old.

"I don't think anyone decided to lay back and throw in the towel because we were safe. We knew that Bolton would be trying to throw the kitchen sink at us. We tried to act calm and just enjoy our football but we didn't do that.

"How it comes across to outsiders watching might seem complacent, but I'm not really bothered. It was disappointing to lose and it was a dampener on the season.

"It was disappointing, he (Keane) was very upset and we have to take it on the chin. We know we've lost and we didn't play too well so there's nothing much we can change about that apart from showing our worth again in the next game."

The former Gillingham defender was part of Sunderland's last Premier League side, when they suffered the humiliation of finishing with the lowest ever points total in the top flight.

It's a record taken on by Derby this season, but not something Nosworthy would like to experience again. He feels the club can build on this season's achievements.

"As a team we've really held together and done our job," said Nosworthy. "I don't think it could have got any worse than the last time we were in the Premier League.

"It's a massive club and there are a lot of clubs with a smaller fan base. Sunderland deserve to be in the Premier League and playing against all the good teams because this is a big club and they have every right.

"The foundations are there for us to stay in the Premier League."

Twelve months ago Sunderland were celebrating promotion to the top flight.

But despite finishing top of the Championship, Nosworthy believes a bottom-half finish in the Premier League has been their finest accomplishment.

He said: "I think it was a bigger achievement than being promoted.

"Sunderland were always in contention in the Championship to go up, but to go on to the Premier League and actually stay there is the best feeling in the world.

"It's a big step for the club, but we're up now and we have laid the foundations to build from here."

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