RECORD Sunderland signing Emerson Thome, who scored the goal and carried off the Man of the Match award in the dour 1-0 home win over Coventry City, believes his fellow defenders are in the mood to extend a four-match run of Premiership clean sheets.
Peter Reid's men have now put together an eight-match unbeaten run, but it is the refusal to concede goals which the manager feels provides the foundation for success.
Thome, who has become the cornerstone of the Wearsiders' defence since his £4.5m move from Chelsea, believes the secret of keeping the opposition at bay is wholehearted team work.
"It is not easy to keep clean sheets," said the 26-year-old centre half, who earned the nickname of The Wall in Brazil for his uncompromising defensive qualities.
"Everyone has to work hard together and I must say that the boys have been marvellous in the last few games.
"No matter who scores goals for you, if you don't concede it means that at least you get a point, which is very important.
"I don't know how long we can keep it going, but we will try as long as we can."
Thome picked out his central defensive partner, Jody Craddock, for special praise. The two have forged an effective understanding and Thome knows how important Craddock's contribution has been in keeping the rearguard watertight.
"There is no way I take all the credit for our defensive performances recently," he said.
"Jody has been magnificent and it has been great playing alongside him.
"He is a hard-working player and we talk and try to perform well together.
"You can't do everything by yourself and you have to have partners and I think Jody has done marvellously well like the other players in our defence."
It was Thome's first goal for a season and a half, when he was with Sheffield Wednesday.
He admitted: "I am not a great goalscorer. Since the start of last season I have played 40 or 45 games and while I've hit the bar twice I didn't score.
"It is my first goal for Sunderland and I am really pleased. Winning, keeping a clean sheet and scoring the winning goal - it is fantastic."
Thome, however, believes that Sunderland must continue to score goals from other positions rather than rely on Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips.
"We have to try to score goals from all over the park," he said.
"The players up front get the most chances, but it is not easy because opposition defences know about their ability. They had an amazing record last season.
"I see how they play in training and I think the time will come when they start to score like they did last season."
Thome, however, is reluctant to start talking about the prospects of playing in Europe by improving on last season's seventh position.
He said: "Sunderland have had two excellent seasons. They won the First Division quite comfortably and last season finished seventh in the Premiership.
"The club is making progress and the supporters expect more and more.
"But it is not easy - you have to build up in phases. First we have to establish ourselves in the Premiership.
"Sunderland is a big club and offers everything for the players to get better. I just hope that this is the start of the good times."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article