THE PRESSURES of an end of season relegation fight have led Sam Allardyce to step up his transcendental meditation sessions in a bid to keep Sunderland in the Premier League.

Allardyce, speaking ahead of the Black Cats’ third last game of the season when Chelsea travel to Wearside, has used the technique as he plots a way of lifting his team out of the relegation zone.

The 61-year-old will lead Sunderland at the Stadium of Light today when a point could prove to be crucial in the fight to climb clear of the Championship trap door.

“I would say I’m doing it more now,” said Allardyce. “I’d say 20-25 minutes when the day is finished. I might be in the office or away from here and just chill out.

“I am not a great sleeper so 30 minutes of meditation, they say in research, is as good as two or three hours sleep, which is why you feel a bit better.”

It is not something Allardyce has just started since taking on the challenge of keeping Sunderland up; meditating has been part of his life for more than a decade but he has not introduced it to the players.

Allardyce said: “There’s only so much you want to introduce in one season and these players are fitter than they have ever been and reduced our injury list dramatically. Our changes in the sports science area have made a big difference.

“I have been doing it for 12 or so years. It’s all about focus in the mind and focusing on what you particularly want to focus on and then chilling out. Those who are complete fanatics can go all the way with it, but I am just a moderate user and I find it beneficial.

“It helps you cope with the pressure you come under in this job. It was brought in for the players at Bolton in 2003/04, I was one of these guys who thought I should try it myself to have a better understanding.

“I read the science on it and it gives you a better insight into how it helps to reduce your blood pressure and keeps you calmer. You can be anywhere at any time, in a relatively quiet place. It refreshes you and makes you feel good to push on.”

Allardyce will hope his players, without meditating, turn up at focused on securing the points to give the fight to stay in the top-flight a boost.

He was left frustrated last Saturday with the way his team required a last-gasp equaliser from the penalty spot by Jermain Defoe to avoid defeat at Stoke and he wants to see improvements against Chelsea.

He said: "It did concern me, very much so. It concerned me a great deal. I did not expect to see a performance like that. I was looking forward to us playing Stoke, based on how we have played since the turn of the year. It took me by surprise.

“It took me back quickly to some of the performances we gave before the end of December, which concerned me. What changed my mind in the end was dogged determination, even though it wasn’t going well, to continue to fight until the very end to end up getting a point.”

Chelsea showed their quality on Monday after a disappointing season when they halted Tottenham’s attempts to win the title. Sunderland, though, have much more at stake.

Allardyce said: “We talk about the history of the football club to the players when they arrive here. They generally know about the history, most of them, not all of them.

“They are that desperate to come to the Premier League and play in the Premier League, why would they not understand how important it is for them to maintain their own standards and credibility as a football player?

“Staying in the Premier League is everything for every player at the football club, because otherwise it devalues them as an individual and as a player.

“Playing in the Championship is one of the hardest leagues in the world to play in. Not ability wise, but in terms of commitment and drive and desire, because of the golden pot, everyone in the Championship gives you a hard game like they did in the Premier League.”

If they do stay up, will Sunderland be looking to follow the Leicester lead?

Allardyce said: “Southampton are probably a better blueprint than Leicester, because they have been doing it considerably for a number of years now. Tottenham is another one. Building slowly, because there is too much impatience in football, and they ask for it too rapidly.”