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.
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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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