SAM ALLARDYCE last night revelled in proving Dick Advocaat wrong as he celebrated keeping Sunderland in the Premier League despite having inherited a side that looked destined for relegation.

To see a gallery of photographs from last nights game click here

Allardyce replaced Advocaat in mid-October, taking over a team that dropped to the foot of the table when they lost his first game in charge at West Brom.

Advocaat walked out on his position as head coach, admitting he did not see how he could prevent his side suffering relegation, and Allardyce admits there were times when he wondered if the Dutchman’s pessimism was warranted.

But having led his players on a run that has seen them lose just one of their last ten games, the 61-year-old is delighted to have dispelled the doubts that accompanied his appointment.

“What’s sweet is proving Dick wrong,” said Allardyce, who refused to take too much satisfaction from his former club Newcastle’s relegation as a result of Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Everton. “It was a challenge for me when Dick said this team wasn’t something he wanted to be associated with, and that they were going to get relegated.

“I’ve got the utmost respect for Dick Advocaat – I’m not criticising him in any way for what he’s done in his career – but I have used his words as a motivation tool for the players.

“We’ve gone and proved him wrong, which is great. It’s more satisfying for the players than it is for me, I’ve just come and done the job.

“This season is the worst season you could ever be relegated from the Premier League, with the money scenario, and this means we’ve secured massive revenue to help the club improve and massive turnover levels they’ve never seen before. It’s a great relief for the whole staff at Sunderland – there are going to be no cut-backs now.”

Instead, there will be an opportunity for further investment, with Ellis Short set to back Allardyce in the transfer market as he attempts to ensure next season does not involve yet another battle against the drop.

“We don’t want to be fire-fighting again, but that’s something that only this (summer’s) recruitment will put to one side,” he said. “The club has been in this position three times before and said, ‘Never again – we’ve got to stop this and got to stop that’. But that’s exactly what has to happen this time around.

“That can only happen when we all sit around the table and begin the hard discussions on how we’re going to get to where we all want to go.”

Allardyce has maintained his proud record of never having been relegated from the top-flight, and his emotional reaction on the post-match lap of honour proved just how much Sunderland’s success meant to him.

“I think it’s probably better than when I rescued Blackburn,” he said. “There have been some greater difficulties, on and off the field, that have challenged me more. But we’ve all managed to overcome those challenges to produce a very good team that has played some exciting football.”

Jermain Defoe has been a talismanic presence throughout Sunderland’s successful survival campaign, with his 15 league goals playing a huge part in his side’s avoidance of the drop.

“It’s unbelievable that we’ve done it,” said Defoe. “I said after the Chelsea match that the fans won us the game, and they’ve done that again. When the fans are like that, they drive the team on to win games. It’s unbelievable to stay up, and I’m delighted.

“There’s a great feeling in the dressing room, and if you look at the great teams over the years, it’s all about team spirit and togetherness. This bunch of guys are unbelievable.

“It was a case of getting the first goal to settle us down, and I’m delighted. I’ve worked hard this season and kept myself fit and sharp, but I couldn’t have done it without the lads who have been creating chances.

“I think he’s (Allardyce) been there and done it. He’s a top manager and away from football, he’s a great man. He must be as delighted as everyone at the football club.”

Jan Kirchhoff echoed Defoe’s praise of his manager, and likened Sunderland’s achievements in the second half of the season to lifting silverware.

“It’s really nice,” said Kirchhoff. “It’s like winning a title and really unbelievable. We had it in our own hands, but it was a really difficult situation.

“We all worked hard and got a big support from the team, our head coach and all the staff. All of us believed we could stay in the league and we had enough quality to play in the Premier League next season.”