Jermain Defoe demands Sunderland find killer instinct and turn draws into wins

Jermain Defoe has urged Sunderland to go for the kill when they're on top against teams '“ rather than letting them off the hook.
Jermain DefoeJermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe

The Black Cats have squandered leads in their last three games against Crystal Palace, Southampton and Newcastle.

It means that while they are unbeaten in those fixtures, their points tally is just three, rather than a potential nine.

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Sunderland were in control of all three games before running out of gas at key moments in the second halves.

And Defoe – who watched as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s late leveller cancelled out his strike against Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby – wants his side to become more ruthless if they are to stay in the Premier League.

He said: “If you are in control of a game, try and get another goal – create the chances.

“It would be nice to play a game where we are winning two or 3-0.

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“It’s been a while – last time we scored a few goals was against Swansea.

“It would be nice but we can’t always do that and it’s a tough league to score goals in. At the end of the day, if we win 1-0 it’s still three points.

“It doesn’t matter who scores the goals or how many goals we score, it’s about getting three points.”

Defoe, who has 15 goals this season, is confident his side can secure their Premier league survival, but admits the Black Cats must do it the hard way again.

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He added: “We never make it easy. It would be nice at this point of the season to be safe, but this is the reality – it is what it is.

“As players, we have got to perform. Yes, it’s pressure, but the rewards are so big.”