Last time Gus Poyet was here he described his Brighton team's performance as 'embarrassing'. This time it was a slightly happier Sunderland boss who greeted the press after his side ground out a point in a stunningly dull goalless draw at the Boleyn Ground...
Go on; anyone?You'd wonder who should be the team at the foot of the table after that performance, wouldn't you?
We didn't look like the worst team in the Premier League today. I think we're better than a few at the bottom but somehow it's not enough to be out of this situation. When you play like this you need to win, you need to score and you need to make sure you take the three points.
This is my team and now we need to make sure we do this week in, week out. Consistency. I have a couple of different feelings; I'm very upset because we didn't win but for the first time proper - my team.
You must have been very encouraged by the way you kept your shape? And their goalie made five saves; your goalie made two and he was the away 'keeper.
It's the way I like to play football, it's the way I like to teach the players . Of course it's a different way and sometimes it's not that easy, especially when you are at the bottom, to convince 25 players we need to be brave on the ball or that it doesn't matter where you play, if you believe in a way of playing we are able to achieve.
We done it for four to five minutes here and there. Today if the first time I have to say we didn't get what we deserved.
Looking at West Ham's home record did you come here thinking you could win?
It's difficult really for us at the moment to look too much at the position because we didn't win. So we pay attention to the injuries. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and they were missing a few very important players - so you have to take your chance.
I think that's common sense; if you're coming here and there's no Carroll, there's no Nolan, no Downing and company then this is the game you need to win - because if you come here and they're all on the pitch then it's going to be a bit more difficult.
I think we done everything to win it. I don't like the word 'luck' but this year we've conceded so many own goals I'm waiting for a deflected shot to go in the top corner, or a bizarre decision from the referee giving me a penalty or whatever. We need to be perfect unfortunately to win the game.
Very good! You're the best.
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