Sam Allardyce reveals what he said when Yann M'Vila made that tackle against Southampton

Allardyce was gutted his side were unable to hold on for at least a draw

SAM ALLARDYCE must be wondering if swapping a life in the sun for the drudgery of a relegation scrap with Sunderland was really the right decision.

 

Even die-hard Mackems are fearing that after so many great escapes, the Black Cats are running out of lives.

But Younes Kaboul insists such pessimism has not yet seeped into the dressing room.

"Of course, it is hard for everyone," said the defender.

"Off the pitch, people will talk and say that Sunderland will go down but we don't pay attention to that and are not affected by it.

"We just concentrate on ourselves. We have some great players here and we just need to click. If we had scored before Southampton, we win the game."

Sunderland's football was often appalling but their organisation was a huge improvement on the Goodison Park debacle, the players' attitude was exemplary and Allardyce's game plan of stifling Saints might have worked but for a moment of madness from Yann M'Vila.

M'Vila had been one of Sunderland's best players on the day before his heinous error

The French international has been Sunderland's top performer this season but his rash slide on Ryan Bertrand, resulting in Dusan Tadic converting the subsequent penalty, was typical of the culture Allardyce believes pervades the club.

"I felt comfortable when I saw Yann running out there," he said. "I just thought, 'this is going to be all right, there's no threat here'.

"And then it was 'oh ****...no please, don't go to ground'. Then you look at the referee and it sickens you even more when you see him pointing to the spot. He didn't need to do it and we have to cut out those things."

For more than two years now, Southampton have been one of the Premier League's best sides to watch but now it seems they have the mentality to match their footballing qualities.

And that makes them a good outside bet for that fourth Champions League slot this season, according to defender Jose Fonte, who believes his side are now the equals of Tottenham and Liverpool.

"Obviously they are massive clubs but history and tradition does not play a part in where you finish," he said. "The Champions League place could be open this year and we are a better team than last year."