A SECOND consecutive sell-out, passionate crowd in the space of five days could be inside the Stadium of Light for a crucial fixture that could secure Sunderland’s Premier League tonight, with Sam Allardyce claiming the noise and numbers highlight what can be achieved – if they stay up.

Allardyce, a Sunderland player in the early 1980s, has spent more than 40 years playing and managing in the English game and described ‘a wall of noise’ only comparable to what he heard during West Ham’s play-off final after Saturday’s victory over Chelsea.

He wants similar against Everton, when victory over Roberto Martinez’s side will not only keep Sunderland up but also confirm Newcastle will be a Championship club next season.

With the stakes so high, Allardyce is not banking on Sunderland completing the latest escape act against the Toffees, although he is desperate for his players to avoid having to go to Watford on Sunday with a job still to do.

The crowd could act as a 12th man – as described by the players and manager at the weekend – and Allardyce believes a packed and vibrant Stadium of Light highlights just what can be achieved at Sunderland.

"I think there's growing support for the biggest thing in and around the city - the football team,” said Allardyce. “Being part of the Premier League is important for the city. It's massive. The support is growing even though they know the team's struggled over the last few years.

“If we're getting sell outs when we're at the bottom of the league, if we can get better and more exciting players in and are trying to achieve more, it might well be a case of us filling the stadium on a regular basis.

“I think within the Premier League support is growing - look at West Ham, 52,000 season tickets sold. It shows you just how popular the Premier League is. I think Sunderland's support is actually growing - if we can survive and build a better team next year that support will keep growing...”

Allardyce was careful not to talk too loosely about next season, as failure to beat Everton will raise hope on Tyneside they can spring a surprise on the final day.

Having lost just two of their last 12 matches, however, the signs are positive for Sunderland.

Allardyce said: "It would be a great relief for me if the players can do it against Everton. It would be grand for them of course - it makes life so much easier for us to go to Watford.

“If it's points you need on the last day it's even more unpredictable to decide what happens. With the pressures of the last game you just don't know who is going to do what or who is going to decide.”

A lot has been made of Sunderland’s consistent ability to climb away from relegation trouble year in, year out, having regularly been faced with a survival fight since promotion to the Premier League in 2007.

Allardyce suggests his team is markedly different to those that have celebrated survival previously.

He said: "Not a lot of players have been in this position before. You're talking about Vito Mannone, Lee Cattermole, Seb Larsson … We have done back to back wins a couple of times early doors, so I think we're trying to do a back to back for the third time.

“I think being at home is an advantage with the way the crowd has been behind us - and the way the players have responded to it. Let's hope we can emulate the Chelsea performance.

"We haven't actually done it (survived) this year - have we? Let's do it for the fourth time and say 'let's not let it happen again.' I think that's the most important thing.”

Everton head to the North-East without anything to play for other than pride – and possibly the future of Roberto Martinez. The Spaniard is under pressure after a change of ownership at Goodison Park and a failure to compete at the top end of the Premier League this season.

Everton have won one of their last ten games, and Allardyce said: "In this industry now why is Roberto not good enough to spend the money? It's ridiculous for me. If someone gave me £150m I'd get in the Champions League. No problem - but nobody's ever given me £150m so you have to expect you won't get there.

“But if I got it and I didn't get into the Champions League you'd have to get rid of me because I would deserve it.

“Roberto seems to be in the crossfire because a new shareholder, a big shareholder comes - but if they build a new stadium the manager won't get much more money because all the money will go on a new stadium."

Sunderland: Mannone; Yedlin, Kaboul, Kone, van Aanholt; Kirchhoff; Borini, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri; Defoe.