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KENWYNE JONES says Sunderland need fear no-one at home as they prepare to take on Champions League hopefuls Manchester City this weekend.
The Black Cats may have gone for four months without a league win before finally earning three points against Bolton in midweek, but at they have lost just twice at the Stadium of Light this season - against title contenders Chelsea and high-fliers Aston Villa.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both left Wearside pointless, proving Sunderland are capable of beating so-called Big Four sides.
NIALL Quinn is so confident Steve Bruce is the right manager for Sunderland he would not even sack him if the Black Cats lost every single one of their remaining ten games this season.
Bruce guided Sunderland to their first win in 15 games against Bolton on Tuesday night to move six points above the dreaded drop zone.
But, even while the Black Cats were being dragged into an unexpected battle against relegation, Bruce retained the unwavering backing of Quinn and owner Ellis Short.
SKIPPER Lorik Cana insists Sunderland will get along fine without him this weekend as they look to build on their midweek win over Bolton.
The Black Cats beat the Trotters 4-0 on Tuesday to end their 14-game winless streak.
However, the victory came at a price for Cana, who picked up his 10th booking of the season - and with it a two-game suspension.
ANTON Ferdinand insists Sunderland were "never in crisis" before Tuesday's victory over Bolton Wanderers ended a run of 14 Premier League games without a win.
He has had it a good deal worse.
The Black Cats defender was with West Ham when, in May 2007, they required three points at Old Trafford to preserve their top-flight status.
Sunderland's current plight has been nothing in comparison, not least because of the belief which has continued to resonate throughout the squad and for which Ferdinand has paid tribute to manager Steve Bruce.
DARREN BENT bagged his maiden Premier League hat-trick - but admitted he could have scored five!
The Sunderland striker took his goals haul to 19 for the season, 18 of which have come in the league, with a treble in last night's 4-0 romp against Bolton which ended the Black Cats' 14-game winless streak.
However, while Bent claimed the matchball with his hat-trick, he was put firmly in his place after the game by his dad - who pointed out he could have bagged five.
STEVE Bruce has urged Fabio Capello to reconsider the decision to drop Darren Bent after the striker scored a superb second-half hat-trick last night to secure Sunderland's first league win in more than three months.
Darren Bent
Bent bagged three predatory strikes against Bolton, after a goal inside the first minute from Fraizer Campbell, to bring an utterly convincing and comprehensive end to a run of 14 games without a victory.
Bruce said: "I know he was bitterly disappointed to be left out by England last week, but he could have scored six tonight. It is great for him. He has scored 18 goals this season in a team which is 13th in the Premier League and that is an unbelievable return.
STEVE BRUCE is hoping the Red and White Army will make the difference tonight as Sunderland face a crunch relegation clash against Bolton.
Wigan's unexpected win against Liverpool last night saw Sunderland slip another place in the table - they are now just two places and three points above the relegation zone.
That has piled even more pressure on tonight's game as Bolton - who are only two points above Sunderland - arrive on Wearside looking for their third successive win.
The Black Cats, meanwhile, are desperate to break their 14-match winless streak.
STEED Malbranque will return to Sunderland's starting line-up against Bolton Wanderers tonight after he was dropped and fined two weeks' wages for breaking a club curfew.
Malbranque did not even make the bench for the 0-0 draw with the Cottagers following a showdown with Bruce after the French winger was spotted in a nightclub on the Thursday night before the game.
That, coupled with some lacklustre performances from the former Fulham and Tottenham star, who has been unable to sustain an impressive start to the campaign, led to a furious response from Bruce, who was incensed by the player's attitude and the lack of respect shown towards his team-mates.
Malbranque, though, has since apologised and been assured he remains a key figure this season, particularly given the Black Cats' lack of midfield creativity in the absence of Andy Reid, Jordan Henderson and Kieran Richardson.
KIERAN RICHARDSON says one win is all it will take to get Sunderland's season back up and running.
A run of 14 league games without a victory has seen the Black Cats go from a side eyeing up a European place to one looking anxiously over its shoulder towards the bottom three.
And while they have gone some way towards stopping the rot by drawing four of their last five games - including a goalless draw at home against Fulham in their last outing - it is victories they need to dig themselves out of trouble.
They take on relegation rivals Bolton at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, and Richardson believes that a win would lift the sense of gloom that has descended during the four months since Sunderland last picked up three points.
"It's a big game for us tomorrow night but we've got to go into it positively and make sure we get that win we all want," said the midfielder.
SUNDERLAND are preparing a summer bid for Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara - and hope to sign his Spurs team-mate Alan Hutton on a permanent basis if they win their battle against relegation.
With Steve Bruce having been assured his job is safe, the Black Cats are already preparing a list of targets for next season and O'Hara - in fine form during his season-long loan at Portsmouth - is understood to feature prominently.
Although the 23-year-old midfielder has been playing well at Fratton Park, Tottenham will sell him in the summer and Sunderland are leading a host of Premier League clubs vying for his signature.
Bruce is prepared to reinforce his squad with up to six new players this summer and knows he needs to beef up his central midfield options after being left short by suspensions and injures for most of this season.
Sunderland believe they could get O'Hara for around £1million, but know they have potential rivals in the form of West Ham, with Pompey also keen to sign him on a permanent basis if they can unravel the financial problems which have put the club's future under threat.
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