O’Shea remains positive about Sunderland despite a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at the weekend.
Sunderland captain John O’Shea has said there is plenty for the side to be positive about despite returning to the bottom of the table after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, the Sunderland Echo reports.
The Black Cats went into the game on the back of two consecutive league wins but were unable to avoid defeat to the division’s second-placed side, although they did hold them until the final 15 minutes of the game.
O’Shea is quoted in the Sunderland Echo, saying: “We have the ability to score goals and get clean sheets. Combine those two things, we are very close.
“Another day and we could have been coming away from Anfield with a clean sheet and a point. It is very positive, from that point of view.”
The Black Cats certainly made things very difficult for Liverpool. They had a game plan and executed it pretty well, as well as having one or two chances of their own.
Sunderland’s performance level has certainly risen, and there was a visible confidence about their play at Anfield following their two wins.
They remain three points from safety going into crucial league games against Leicester City and Swansea City where they will look to pick up more points in order for their campaign to survive in the league to gather some pace.
They may have kept only one clean sheet so far this season but there has evidently been an improvement at the back. There are fewer errors and they look more structured, while both Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe have proved to be a threat going forward in recent weeks.
The Black Cats’ two wins prior to their trip to Anfield allowed them to face Liverpool with the pressure off a little.
It seems that O’Shea is determined for the result against Liverpool not to be taken as a knock to their confidence.
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