WITH a growing clamour on Wearside to see a Niall Quinn-led consortium take charge on Wearside and install the former Republic of Ireland striker and fans' favourite as manager, Tommy Miller remains adamant the best man to launch Sunderland's fightback next season is the current caretaker boss.

Kevin Ball took on the thankless task of attempting to restore some stability to the relegated side in the wake of Mick McCarthy's departure, and on Saturday his side almost threw a spanner in Portsmouth's bid to beat the drop.

Despite the 2-1 defeat giving the temporary manager a return of just two points from a possible 24, Miller has already seen enough to warrant Ball taking the role on permanently.

"He's come in with fresh ideas," said the 27-year-old, who became the club's joint top Premiership scorer with his third of the campaign on Saturday. "He's done very well and personally I'd like to see him get the job.

"He's a good man manager. He knows what he wants from the players, he knows the players individually and he knows what the players' strengths and weakness are.

"As long as you work hard he gives you a licence to play."

That hard work demanded by Ball was again in evidence on Saturday. After last Monday's demoralising 4-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Newcastle the demand from the man in charge was a positive reaction.

That was evident, and confidence amongst the players has never been in question, according to Miller.

"Were bottom of the league and supposedly we're rock-bottom on confidence but it didn't show on Saturday," said the former Ipswich player.

"We've kept on fighting - the results maybe haven't gone for us - but we've kept on playing. It's important that we've all stuck together.

"We've taken a lot of stick a lot of setbacks, a lot of knocks. Press, TV and everything.

"It shows the lads character that we've bounced back - everyone of us. We've done well but it wasn't good enough."

One player who has endured a torrid campaign is Miller's former team-mate at Portman Road, Kelvin Davis.

Former boss Mick McCarthy took the £1.25m goalkeeper out of the firing line earlier in the season, dropping him for teenage rookie Ben Alnwick, but he was inspiring at Fratton Park in the second half epitomising the never-say-die attitude in the Wearsiders' camp.

"They (Portsmouth) came out strong in the second half, we knew they would, and Kelvin pulled off some great saves to keep us in it," said Miller.

"The last few performances have shown how good a goalkeeper he really is.

"Against Man United he was outstanding and showed all the qualities we all know he has. He's a Premiership goalkeeper in my eyes. He's not the only one though. A lot of the lads here are Premiership quality players."

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